fut_v_c_o_AKP (NASA S-69-4052)
“SPACE STATION---Artist concept of an Earth-orbiting space station as planned by National Aeronautics and Space Administration engineers. A station similar to this will provide broad support for such Earth resource activities as oceanography, meteorology and geophysics. It is capable of supporting biomedical laboratories, physical science laboratories, and solar and stellar observatories. Free-flying modules containing special scientific equipment might orbit near the station. Scientists will travel to the science module in miniature taxis or tugs. The modular concept shown here will have both zero and artificial gravity. It will be able to accommodate between 12 and 50 scientific and technical personnel and it will orbit the Earth at approximately [225?] nautical miles altitude. By adding more modules, the station can become a base from which planetary missions can depart. A station similar to this might also be placed in lunar orbit to support future exploration of the Moon. It will have a Ward Room for crew off-duty activities, food preparation and dining. There will be individual Crew Quarters, Docking and Cargo-Handling [unreadable, if even present]. The crew will probably be rotated at three to six-month intervals. They will be ferried to the station in a shuttle vehicle which will have the capability of landing at airports as do the present-day passenger aircraft. Electric power will come from solar panels or small nuclear [reactors/generators?]. [Launch?] of the initial module could come as early as [1985/86?]. Because of its size, the station will be visible to the naked eye. It [will be visible?] as far north as Ketchikan, Alaska, [and as far south as?] [unreadable] in South America."
I previously posted what I thought was this identical work, with the above extremely faded caption on the verso. However, upon closer examination, there are indeed subtle differences.
I’m continually fascinated by the evolution of concepts, for whatever reasons, and the superb efforts of the talented artists trying to keep up. Not meant to overlook the complex & thankless work of countless engineers - but I’m approaching it strictly from the visual end-product, as transient as it obviously was.
Further, another near identical version - in a Sep. 19, 2018 post by user "hesham" at the outstanding SECRET PROJECTS FORUM website depicts the deployment of a satellite by the near shuttle, with the accompanying caption. The image & caption possibly from an unidentified AW&ST issue:
"Proposed space transportation system is a multi-mission oriented concept. Space shuttle, at upper left, releases an unmanned observatory. The space station in modularized form is at right. The precursor Saturn 5 workshop is at lower left.”
At:
www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/us-space-shuttle-project...
Finally, fortunately & most gratifyingly, the ‘framing’ of this version reveals the artist. That being NASA’s Jerry L. Elmore - in my world - most recognized for his memorable renderings of the Apollo 15, 16 & 17 landing sites. Those were made ‘famous’ by being featured in the Tang fold-out posters. A huge & surprising WIN, I’ll take it.
Finally, as a counterpoint to the landmass cited below, this one features the Bahama Islands.
A near-identical space base/station photo (NASA-S-69-2623) featured at least twice at David S. F. Portree’s informative blog bears the following captions:
“One proposed Space Base configuration. This three-armed design, which would have a permanent crew complement of 50 astronauts and scientists, would spin about its axis to produce acceleration in the habitat arm (left). The crew would feel the acceleration as gravity. The other two arms would each hold a nuclear reactor at a safe distance from the crew in the habitat module and core section. Also visible to the right of the Space Base is a small free-flying science module; these would dock with the non-spinning core section for servicing.”
At:
spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com/2016/01/thinking-big-traf...
And:
“Conceptual art of 100-man Space Base in orbit over Australia and New Guinea. The two truss-work arms hold at their ends nuclear reactors and their rectangular waste heat radiators. A free-flying large space telescope orbits nearby.”
At:
spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com/2015/03/outpost-in-leo-mc...
Possibly by Mr. Elmore as well?
fut_v_c_o_AKP (NASA S-69-4052)
“SPACE STATION---Artist concept of an Earth-orbiting space station as planned by National Aeronautics and Space Administration engineers. A station similar to this will provide broad support for such Earth resource activities as oceanography, meteorology and geophysics. It is capable of supporting biomedical laboratories, physical science laboratories, and solar and stellar observatories. Free-flying modules containing special scientific equipment might orbit near the station. Scientists will travel to the science module in miniature taxis or tugs. The modular concept shown here will have both zero and artificial gravity. It will be able to accommodate between 12 and 50 scientific and technical personnel and it will orbit the Earth at approximately [225?] nautical miles altitude. By adding more modules, the station can become a base from which planetary missions can depart. A station similar to this might also be placed in lunar orbit to support future exploration of the Moon. It will have a Ward Room for crew off-duty activities, food preparation and dining. There will be individual Crew Quarters, Docking and Cargo-Handling [unreadable, if even present]. The crew will probably be rotated at three to six-month intervals. They will be ferried to the station in a shuttle vehicle which will have the capability of landing at airports as do the present-day passenger aircraft. Electric power will come from solar panels or small nuclear [reactors/generators?]. [Launch?] of the initial module could come as early as [1985/86?]. Because of its size, the station will be visible to the naked eye. It [will be visible?] as far north as Ketchikan, Alaska, [and as far south as?] [unreadable] in South America."
I previously posted what I thought was this identical work, with the above extremely faded caption on the verso. However, upon closer examination, there are indeed subtle differences.
I’m continually fascinated by the evolution of concepts, for whatever reasons, and the superb efforts of the talented artists trying to keep up. Not meant to overlook the complex & thankless work of countless engineers - but I’m approaching it strictly from the visual end-product, as transient as it obviously was.
Further, another near identical version - in a Sep. 19, 2018 post by user "hesham" at the outstanding SECRET PROJECTS FORUM website depicts the deployment of a satellite by the near shuttle, with the accompanying caption. The image & caption possibly from an unidentified AW&ST issue:
"Proposed space transportation system is a multi-mission oriented concept. Space shuttle, at upper left, releases an unmanned observatory. The space station in modularized form is at right. The precursor Saturn 5 workshop is at lower left.”
At:
www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/us-space-shuttle-project...
Finally, fortunately & most gratifyingly, the ‘framing’ of this version reveals the artist. That being NASA’s Jerry L. Elmore - in my world - most recognized for his memorable renderings of the Apollo 15, 16 & 17 landing sites. Those were made ‘famous’ by being featured in the Tang fold-out posters. A huge & surprising WIN, I’ll take it.
Finally, as a counterpoint to the landmass cited below, this one features the Bahama Islands.
A near-identical space base/station photo (NASA-S-69-2623) featured at least twice at David S. F. Portree’s informative blog bears the following captions:
“One proposed Space Base configuration. This three-armed design, which would have a permanent crew complement of 50 astronauts and scientists, would spin about its axis to produce acceleration in the habitat arm (left). The crew would feel the acceleration as gravity. The other two arms would each hold a nuclear reactor at a safe distance from the crew in the habitat module and core section. Also visible to the right of the Space Base is a small free-flying science module; these would dock with the non-spinning core section for servicing.”
At:
spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com/2016/01/thinking-big-traf...
And:
“Conceptual art of 100-man Space Base in orbit over Australia and New Guinea. The two truss-work arms hold at their ends nuclear reactors and their rectangular waste heat radiators. A free-flying large space telescope orbits nearby.”
At:
spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com/2015/03/outpost-in-leo-mc...
Possibly by Mr. Elmore as well?