Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

NASA studied this Grumman/Boeing concept for a partially reusable space transportation system during the Shuttle research effort in 1969-1972. This two-stage system featured two piloted fly-back vehicles, a booster and an orbiter, both using liquid propellant. The orbiter was mounted on a large external tank above the booster. Powered by five F-1 engines, the booster would carry the orbiter to a set altitude, then detach to return to base. After separation, the orbiter's engines, fed from the tank, would ignite for final ascent into orbit. Moving all the orbiter's propellants into a disposable external tank made the orbiter smaller and lighter-weight. NASA transferred a variety of concept models to the Museum after settling on the final Space Shuttle design.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type MODELS-Crewed Spacecraft & Parts Manufacturer Grumman Aerospace Corporation
 Dimensions 3-D: 48.3 × 21.5 × 13cm (19 × 8 7/16 × 5 1/8 in.)
Overall (Booster): 11in. x 8 1/4in. (27.94 x 20.96cm)
Overall (Orbiter): 7 1/4in. x 4 1/2in. (18.42 x 11.43cm)
 Materials Wood, adhesive decal, paint, brass
 Inventory Number A19740733000 Credit Line Transferred from National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.