STSprog-fut_v_c_o_AKP (NASA-S-71-3878-X, NASA-S-72-455-X eq)

“To minimize development costs, NASA evaluated variations of the proven Saturn launch vehicle as booster for the Shuttle. Here the external tank is mounted on an unpiloted rocket stage, neither of them reusable. The operational cost of this concept was judged to be too high.”

 

Above per the placard associated with model of this configuration on display at the NASM, linked to, and credited below.

 

Also, per David S. F. Portree, at his "No Shortage of Dreams" blog:

 

“By mid-1971, this was one of the two leading Space Shuttle design configurations. The first stage, bearing the letters "USA" and a single stabilizing oversized tail fin, might have been derived from the Saturn V S-IC first stage.”

 

At:

 

spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com/2016/11/rube-goldbergs-sp...

 

And:

 

spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-apollo-shuttl...

 

With good reason, this image has been oft-published/reproduced. However, the above are about all I could find for a “caption”. Note also that my posted photo is an earlier/original(?) publication...from 1971. The 1972 re-issue seems to be the replicated version widely reproduced. Making this crazy rare & coveted...right?!

 

Another interesting variation:

 

www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30/HTML/001098.html

Credit: collectSPACE website

 

Lastly, the source photo:

 

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apollo_13_Launch_(S70-38747).jpg

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

 

Just gonna throw it out there...possibly by Loren R. Fisher. Maybe even Don Mackey?

Done