Dec 022016
A late 1980’s concept for NASA by Frassanito & Associates for a “Shuttle 2.” Clearly derived from Space Shuttle general ideas, it features a number of important differences, including:
- A separable cockpit for use in emergencies (a concept given substantial study in the wake of Challenger)
- Separate liquid hydrogen drop tanks above the wings
- No boosters, but instead LH2/LOX engines mounted under the ET (presumably SSMEs, which appear to be in individual re-entry and recovery “capsules”)
It’s not certain, but the ET looks bigger than the standard STS ET. Which would make sense given that it needs to be filled with substantially more propellant to take the place of the SRBs.
This piece of art, and two more providing a closer look at the orbiter, are available in high-rez for APR patrons on the APR “Extras” Dropbox folder, under the 2016-12 APR Extras sub-folder. If you’re interested, take a look at the Aerospace Projects Review Patreon page and consider joining!
This Shuttle II is very interesting – it is smaller than what I have, and what I have includes no ET, just the overwing hydrogen tanks plus internal oxygen tanks. I have some stuff on an advanced Shuttle that is meant to be a step between Shuttle as flown and Shuttle II – this looks like a step between the advanced Shuttle and Shuttle II. This one also has a cargo bay hump – a feature it shared with the NASA Langley Shuttle II. The Shuttle II I have has an aft section that hinges open, then the payload bay slides out. Quite a strange contraption, really. I plan a post on it soon.