CHRYSLER “S.E.R.V.” [PHASE-A' SHUTTLE] [1971]

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Notes:

The “Single-stage Earth-orbital Reusable Vehicle” (SERV) was the most unusual of all space shuttle concepts to emerge from the Phase A/B studies. It was refined by Chrysler Corporation's Space Division under a $750,000 contract in June 1970-April 1971. Like Phil Bono's earlier designs, SERV would have utilized an “integral aerospike engine” (a small prototype was actually built). The engine was developed by Rocketdyne and consisted of 12 modules throttable to 18-120% of the rated thrust. SERV used 28 vertical-lift landing jet engines to cancel terminal velocity and to provide for hover time.

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Unlike the other shuttle concepts, SERV would have flown unmanned although it could be outfitted with several different kinds of spacecraft mounted on the nose of the SSTO vehicle, to provide for passenger flights. The primary manned payload was the “MURP” -- Manned Upper Reusable Payload. This small spaceplane was originally developed by McDonnell-Douglas during the early shuttle Phase-A study for use with expendable boosters. MURP would have contained a launch abort system for the crew and also would have provided the sort of reentry crossrange sought by the US Air Force. Other payloads such as large-diameter space station modules could also have been carried into orbit by SERV. But NASA never seriously considered the concept.

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Development Cost in FY 1971 dollars: $3,565 million [=$14,666M in 1999 $s] plus $350 million [=$1440M in FY 1999] for each production vehicle.

Payload capability: 52,816kg to LEO plus return capability of 20,411kg from orbit. 18.3 * 7m diameter cargo bay.

Liftoff Thrust: 2,630,390 kgf. Total Mass: 2,040,816 kg. Core Diameter: 18.3 m. Total Length: 24.0 m.

Stage Number: 1. 1 x Shuttle SERV-1 Gross Mass: 2,040,816 kg. Empty Mass: 226,757 kg. Thrust (vac): 3,261,105 kgf. Isp: 455 sec. Burn time: 249 sec. Isp(sl): 367 sec. Diameter: 18.3 m. Span: 27.4 m. Length: 20.3 m. Propellants: Lox/LH2. No Engines: 1. Plug-Nozzle SERV

“SERV - A reusable single stage to orbit space shuttle concept” -- Tharratt, JBIS 1975, p. 3-25.