a-fut_v_bw_o_n (1970, poss. Grumman lunar tug, S-70-5330 X eq)
“BETHPAGE, NEW YORK: This is a Manned Spacecraft Center artist’s concept of a multi-use workhorse space vehicle. Called a reusable tug, this highly versatile vehicle can be flown either manned or unmanned. It can be designed to operate around earth, or at the moon in support of interplanetary missions. The tug shown in this concept is approximately five stories high. It serves as a lunar base for scientific personnel who are conducting exploration of the moon.”
Of the myriad of space tug proposals & designs I’ve seen, outwardly, this is the most blatantly ‘simple’, and based on the press slug, possibly put forth by Grumman. It appears to be an Apollo Service Module mated to an Apollo Lunar Module descent stage.
Pretty expedient, gut the innards of the SM, make it a livable space, add windows, a mini-high-gain antenna, modify the contents of the descent stage quadrants, add another descent propulsion system engine - and BAM - orbed maiden here we come!
The Astronauts on the left appear to be investigating a Surveyor-type lander in the background, and an ALSEP-like scientific station is visible to the right.
If indeed a Grumman-originated/produced concept and it being loosely LM-‘derived’...from 1970, there's a chance it's by Craig Kavafes.
Lots of good space tug info & photos:
www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacetug.php
Credit: ATOMIC ROCKETS website
a-fut_v_bw_o_n (1970, poss. Grumman lunar tug, S-70-5330 X eq)
“BETHPAGE, NEW YORK: This is a Manned Spacecraft Center artist’s concept of a multi-use workhorse space vehicle. Called a reusable tug, this highly versatile vehicle can be flown either manned or unmanned. It can be designed to operate around earth, or at the moon in support of interplanetary missions. The tug shown in this concept is approximately five stories high. It serves as a lunar base for scientific personnel who are conducting exploration of the moon.”
Of the myriad of space tug proposals & designs I’ve seen, outwardly, this is the most blatantly ‘simple’, and based on the press slug, possibly put forth by Grumman. It appears to be an Apollo Service Module mated to an Apollo Lunar Module descent stage.
Pretty expedient, gut the innards of the SM, make it a livable space, add windows, a mini-high-gain antenna, modify the contents of the descent stage quadrants, add another descent propulsion system engine - and BAM - orbed maiden here we come!
The Astronauts on the left appear to be investigating a Surveyor-type lander in the background, and an ALSEP-like scientific station is visible to the right.
If indeed a Grumman-originated/produced concept and it being loosely LM-‘derived’...from 1970, there's a chance it's by Craig Kavafes.
Lots of good space tug info & photos:
www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacetug.php
Credit: ATOMIC ROCKETS website