a (fut-Mars)_v_bw_o_n (unnumbered NAA/NASA photo, 66-H-1375 eq)

“Apollo designed for two-year trip to Mars contains lab and radio-command equipment to launch exploration projectiles to planet’s surface.”

 

If I didn’t know better, based on the limited literature I’ve seen/read pertaining to this proposal, the nearer of the two departing vehicles, to me, sort of looks like a rudimentary lifting body shuttle-type vehicle. Especially with the proportionally, rather robust propulsion system.

Note also the ‘terrestrial’ chair, with a crew member actually/literally sitting in it, and the fellow to the left appears to be legitimately standing.

An oversight?

Of what little that’s available to read, I think I recall something regarding consideration for spin-induced artificial gravity in some variant of this configuration, with the CSM serving as the counterbalance. Obviously while in transit. Surely related to the following:

 

spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com/2019/01/apollo-to-mars-ve...

Credit: "No Shortage of Dreams: Apollo to Mars & Venus: North American Aviation's 1965 Plan for Piloted Planetary Flybys in the 1970s"/David S. F. Portree blogspot

 

BAM…sorta, maybe, kinda. Three SPS engines vs. one. So, who knows:

 

mobile.twitter.com/dsfpspacefl1ght/status/141874454089094...

Credit: David S. Portree & Winchell Chung/Twitter

 

Also, excellent information/discussion, at:

 

www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/to-mars-by-apollo.4579/

 

www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/mars-mission-module.5316/

Both above credit: SECRET PROJECTS website/forum

 

Last but not least, possibly by Gary Meyer? Or Henry Lozano?

Done