GRUMMAN & BOEING PHASE B SHUTTLE [1970]
Notes:
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Grumman low-crossrange (top) and high-crossrange shuttle concepts (bottom). In addition to the primary Phase B study contracts, NASA also awarded three “Alternate Space Shuttle Concept” (ASSC) contracts to Grumman/Boeing, Chrysler and Lockheed in June 1970. NASA wanted a fallback option in case North American Rockwell's & McDonnell-Douglas' fully reusable Phase-B shuttle proved to be too expensive. Grumman and Boeing received the most important of the ASSC contracts. It was worth $4 million and was later upgraded into a full Phase-B contract. The early design shown here was a standard fully reusable two-stage concept; Grumman initially conducted a limited 6-month effort on two Phase-B type fully reusable designs. These concepts were used as a point of departure for later trade studies.