Shuttle-C Concepts 1989/1991 - Uncrewed Cargo Launcher, Space Shuttle Derived, OMV, Space Station

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:07]Shuttle C provides a safe, unmanned, and economical means of placing large payloads in orbit.

[00:00:15]The shuttle, as we know it today, can carry payloads of up to 45,000 lb to a 160 nautical mile orbit. With the advanced solid rocket motor, the ASRM, this will increase to 57,000 lb.

[00:00:34]Current unmanned expendable launch vehicles such as the Titan 3 can place 29,000 lb in the same orbit. The upgraded Titan 4, currently under development, will carry 38,000 pounds.

[00:00:49]Shuttle C can place over 114,000 lb to the same orbit. With an upper stage, it can place 20,000 lb in a geocynchronous orbit of 22,000 mi.

[00:01:03]All of this capability to support the needs of already identified programs is possible with a minimum of development, a minimum of time. No new technology is needed to build shuttle C. The launch facilities are already in place.

[00:01:21]By using the existing space shuttle booster rockets and external tank, we have the ability to design and build an unmanned heavy launch vehicle. Now, with shuttle C, we can lift 100,000 lb payloads to the space station, for example.

[00:01:52]In all other aspects, shuttle C works much the same as other current shuttle operations, including cost-saving booster recovery.

[00:02:02]The external tank is also common to both shuttles because the shuttle C cargo carrier uses the same orbiter main engines. An interesting concept and proven technique is employed by shuttle C for carrying greater weights to greater heights.

[00:02:19]Once above the atmosphere, shuttle C jettison its cargo shroud, making the vehicle itself lighter.

[00:02:29]After the main engine firing is completed, the external tank is also jettisoned.

[00:02:41]Once clear of the vehicle, the nose shroud is ejected.

[00:02:49]In a sense, the payload weight for shuttle C is not calculated based on bringing the entire vehicle to its mission destination. That's very much the concept that helped put men and equipment on the surface of the moon.

[00:03:05]Economies are realized in other ways as well. Because of its significant cargo capacity, shuttle C can carry many payloads to orbit preassembled. This means less time and effort in space to put things together.

[00:03:21]Once in orbit, an orbital maneuvering vehicle, part of the payload in this simulation, can position the carrier and its payload to the space station, for example, for docking with an assist from jets in the tail of the carrier and from commands from the space station.

[00:03:40]The OMV or the orbiting maneuvering vehicle is in effect a little space tug and its purpose is to go out uh attach itself to satellites which uh we want to bring back to the space station for repair, pull them back into the vicinity of the space station, then they can be put in the the hanger or the garage where the astronauts can then work on them.

[00:04:07]Space station missions are just the beginning. Shuttle C can also launch planetary probes to Mars, to Saturn, to comets.

[00:04:18]It can deliver large-scale support for lunar exploration.

[00:04:23]And in terms of pure practicality, shuttle C provides an unmanned test environment for advanced shuttle systems.