Old shuttle derived concept. by ljdean
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Description
In a graphic novel series I did years ago, I used concepts based on actual NASA concepts but with a little something I would add to make it my own. This is a concept I called "Powerlifter" which I did two versions of. They are similar to NASAs early 1990s shuttle "C" and "Z" concepts. The one difference was the payload elements ability to be a self deploying spacecraft rather than just cargo. This idea has it's origins in the Skylab program. I worked at KSC as a NASA contractor tech/QA from 1984-2000. I presented an earlier version of this idea back in 1990 when I became concerned over the expense of using the shuttle to launch ISS components to low orbit.
But with the manned program undergoing a largely gradual decline since Apollo, and the shuttle failing economically...this idea was naturally rejected. I decided to use it in my alternate history graphic novel which I ended up not doing anything with because while I found my work is pretty good as a writer and illustrator, its just not very captivating because of my emphasis on realistic space flight.
In 1990, I didn't think the future for NASA HSF was very bright but I thought we would see this type of concept and an eventual replacement for the shuttle. Nearly a quarter century later, such concepts are still the stuff of CGI.
Comments (1)
Diemamker
Great Image!.. I think this would have made a pretty good story... kind of showing the direction Nasa could have taken and who knows where we would be now!!
ljdean
Glad you like the pic. My story was a ten part series which culminated with the first humans on Mars in 2024. I completed the story New Years day 2006. I knew when I was writing it that we wouldn't be going to Mars that soon but it is an alternate history based on what could have happened had an unmanned probe found strong evidence for microbial life on mars.