Found an interesting nugget here.
Image credit: Krafft Ehricke Papers / Convair
Image source: NASM
Tag: Krafft Ehricke Papers
Figure 2.
Unmanned probe approaching Pluto. Probe is powered by thermionic radioisotope power generator. The laser beams for surface illumination, with optical sensors slaved to the beams. Other equipment comprises radiation counters as well as field, plasma and particle sensors.
Image credit: Krafft Ehricke Papers
Image source: NASM
More Ted Brown? Yes please!
Shuttle Doing Shuttle Stuff
Satellite Glider
Figure 6.
Figure 7.
Earth-moon based planetary space port in 1988. Spacecraft are nuclear propelled interplanetary vehicles, launched by solid propellant lift-off rockets side-mounted around center section which, like the cylinders at the spacecraft’s center section, contain nuclear pulse units. In background a large antenna, belonging to the lunar deep space network is visible.
Image credit: Krafft Ehricke Papers
Image source: NASM
Vehicle Requirements
Vehicle Requirements
- An appropriate Earth Launch Vehicle (ELV)
- Space Taxis (ST) and associated auxiliary vehicles
- Long duration ecological system
- A set of mission modules referred to summarily as Life Support Section (LSS),including a radiation shelter, command module, ecology module, and others such as a workshop module, data transmission module and a more for electric power generation.
- Orbit Launch Preparation Modules (OLPM) to support fueling and checkout activities.
- An Earth Entry Module (EEM)
- Propulsion Modules, for the Heliocentric Interorbital Space Vehicle
- An Orbital Tanker Vehicle (OTV)
- A Destination Space Vehicle (DSV) if secondary (excursions) missions are planned at the destination
Image credit: Krafft Ehricke Papers
Image source: NASM
Solar Transportation
Solar Transportation was a presentation given by Krafft Ehrikke at the American Astronautical Society in 1966. In essence, the lecture describes how our solar system might be navigated in the year 2000. As reprinted in the book by Marsha Freeman, it’s a surprisingly enjoyable read.
The summary includes a wish list of propulsion systems to be developed.
Late 70s and most of the 80s
- Solid core nuclear reactors, especially NERVA
Late 80s and 90s
- Nuclear pulse (NP) (non-steady nuclear fission and fusion drive)
- Controlled thermonuclear reactor (CTR) (steady nuclear fusion drive) or, if neither one of these developments is undertaken,
- Nuclear-electrostatic drive.
Ehrikke then presents a timetable, representing a “sensible and likely” evolution of manned helionautical missions.
1970s
- An orbital operations capability would be developed, facilitating cislunar and heliocentric excursion missions.
1980s
- In 1982, a 69 day Mars capture mission launches. The crew conducts intensive reconnaissance both from orbit, and using probes – including landers and returners – but no manned surface excursions are planned. A mission launched between 1984 is one-way, involving a 529 day stay on Mars. A follow-on mission in 1985 (via Venus) retrieves the crew.
- By the end of the ’80s, a capability is established for a Venus landing. A solar physics laboratory is erected on Mercury. These missions are based on the NP and CTR drives.
I990s
- Regular transfers begin between Earth and Mars.
- Exploration of Jupiter and Saturn and their moons.
- Manned missions to asteroids and comets.
- Beginning of utilization of the raw material resources of asteroids and planets of the inner solar system.
Solar Transportation then goes back the future and the fall of the year 2000, looking back at the events that led to the interplanetary travel we enjoy at the dawn of the new millennium. The interplanetary corridors between Mercury and Saturn are alive with manned vehicles. Unmanned probes have reached the Sun. Food is grown on Mars and it is expected that exports to Earth will begin within fifty years. An orbital supply and rescue station is established at Venus, acting as a helionautical coast guard station. But like I said already, go and read it yourself.
Image credit: Krafft Ehricke Papers
Image source: NASM
Cutaway Diagram
Ascent
A MOL and a MOL
Above: A beautiful rendering of a Gemini B / MOL by Numbers Station favorite John Sentovic found in the Krafft Ehricke Papers. Below: Gorgeous artwork of same by Lockheed artist Ludwik Źiemba. At first glance you’d be forgiven for thinking they were the same image, I certainly did. My guess is that both are based on the same cutaway by a McDonnell draughtsman. The industry term for this is, “heavily referenced.”
Image credit: Krafft Ehricke Papers / Lockheed
numbers station 