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STSprog_v_c_o_TPMBK (MSFC neg. no. 005714, 8-80; MSFC photo 5-64124, Dec. 75 near eq.)

“Shuttle Liftoff (Ground) With Liquid Boost Module”

 

Liquid Boost Module?!?

 

Who knew? Did you?? I didn’t!!!

 

From the abstract of “SHUTTLE PERFORMANCE AUGMENTATION WITH THE TITAN LIQUID BOOST MODULE”, proposed by the Martin Marietta Corporation & Aerojet Liquid Rocket Company, and linked to below:

 

“The projected 24,000-pound payload lift capability for the baseline Space Shuttle, with anticipated orbiter and external tank weight savings programs implemented, will not meet the 32,000-pound payload requirements for the DoD Mission 4 from Vandenberg Air Force Base. NASA has selected the Titan Liquid Boost Module (LBM) to provide thrust augmentation during the boost phase sufficient to meet and provide margin for the defined Mission 4 requirements. The LBM will use Titan 34D Stage I engines and a cluster of four Titan derived 10-foot diameter tanks. The module will be attached to the aft end of the ET. This paper will provide a description of the LBM and discuss some of its advantages and capabilities.”

 

At, with a whole lot more, to include diagrams:

 

commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2565&con...

Credit: EMBRY-RIDDLE Aeronautical University Scholarly Commons website

 

“Mission 4" requirement:

 

“…The requirement to increase the Western Test Range (WTR) payload capability by 8,000 pounds is to satisfy the Performance Reference Mission 4 requirement of 32,000 pounds deployed and 25,000 pounds retrieved at 150 NM circular and 98-degree inclination on a 4-man, 7-day mission. This requirement encompasses all known, projected civil and military needs during the current mission model period.”

 

Again, for shuttle purposes, WTR applies to VAFB.

 

From/at:

 

www.gao.gov/assets/masad-81-6.pdf

Credit: GAO website

 

See also:

 

up-ship.com/blog/?p=16432

Credit: "The Unwanted Blog" blog

 

The LBM can be clearly seen firing in the image, which is a variant of the one linked to below. By Rockwell International’s talented artist/illustrator, Manuel E. Alvarez.

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Uploaded on December 7, 2022