In the 1970s America faced increasingly worse energy shortages. It’s main source of petroleum had ground to a halt thanks to the international crisis in Iran and the Middle East, and nuclear had been ruled out after two high-profile nuclear meltdowns.
NASA pitched series of 60 gigantic geosynchronous platforms orbiting the planet, beaming down refined energy for the world's use. It was called the Solar Power System and would be comprised of a global network of gigantic photovoltaic arrays. And they were huge, with two long solar panel structures 5 km long by 4 km wide, or 3.1 miles by 2.4 miles - for a total of 11.73 kilometers long, 7.2 miles in imperial unites, and weighing the small amount of 10.42 million kilograms or 22.97 million pounds.
By being in orbit, weather, dust and day and night cycles would be eliminated, allowing 24/7 constant energy production. The electricity generated would be sent down via microwaves to a thin receiving mesh, that could be built anywhere, even over oceans.
"The SPS is an attractive, challenging, worthy project, which the aerospace community is well prepared and able to address," physicist Robert G. Jahn wrote in support of the project.
But the problem was – how would NASA even get these into orbit. So far, they had only launched the 77-metric-ton (85-U.S.-ton) Skylab into low-earth orbit using a huge Saturn 5 rockets left over from the apollo moon mission. The new solar powerplants weighed 100 times more than even the modern international space station above us today, and rockets wouldn’t cut it - it would need over 1,000 saturn 5 launches to get even one SPS into orbit - let alone 60. So NASA turned to Boeing for the solution.
The Space Freighter was Boeing’s pitch to solve the earth to orbit problem of the SPS program. As its name may infer, it was a rocket system slash space plane that would act like a lorry for space station componets for assembly in orbit. Each mission would have had a payload of around 424,000 kilograms or 934,000 pounds.
For the goal of two SPSs a year, this system would have required a stunning 240 space launched a year – or a turn around every 36 hours. Wommentating on the plans later in 1981, NASA made a very interesting observation.
"The magnitude and sustained nature of this advanced space transportation program concept requires long-term routine operations somewhat analogous to commercial airline/airfreight operations,".
Rockwell came up with this, the Airbreather/Rocket-Powered, Horizontal Takeoff Tridelta Flying Wing, Single-Stage-To-Orbit Transportation System, or dubbed today as "the Rockwell International Starraker. It was a space plane that was 103 meters (310 feet) long with a wing span of about 93 meters (280 feet), and would have carried a maximum of 89.2 metric tons (196,600 lbs) of cargo into low earth orbit around 300 nautical miles above the equator - or 555 kilometers. Overall this would have allowed firms to get payloads into orbit for a cost of $15 per pound ($55 per pound in 2010 dollars). In metric, this is $25 USD per kilograph.
For comparisons sake, Elon musk with his space x rockets costs around $2,720 per kilogram into orbit. So clearly, this dream of low-cost orbit delivery is totally insane.
thanks to its vast tri-delta wing blendered design, there was a great deal of internal volume for not only cargo but fuel as well. The cargo deck was modeled after the C-5 galaxy, 20 feet high and 20 feet wide, in a square shape, and 141 feet long. Thats 6 meters by 6 meters, bt 42.9 meters for those living outside the US.
The craft would have two engine systems, the first was conventional jet engines, specifically hydrogen fueled high bypass supersonic turbofan/air-turbo-exchanger/ramjet engines, each with 140,000 lbf of thrust. Then the space plane also had three hydrogen fuelled rocket engines, each with 1.06 million lbf of thrust and an ISP of 455 seconds - enough to get it into a high orbit.
Here is where it gets crazy, the aircraft would then rise to an altittude of 45,000 feet, before diving directly down to 37,000 feet to build up speed and break the sound barrier, then it would angle upwards to reach 95,000 feet, or 29 km before activating its rocket engines - hitting speeds up to Mach 7.2 .
In terms of the SPS program we outlined before, this would mean than 1100 flights would have been required each year
Yet- why was never built?
In the end, the star raker never really came close to development. it was a change in political power in the United States to the Reagan administration, and the price of oil plummeting that made this expensive enegy concept, the SPS, seem foolish.
Without a need for a launch craft, the whole concept unraveled. Work did continue on other projects, but thats a video for another day.
In the 1970s America faced increasingly worse energy shortages. It’s main source of petroleum had ground to a halt thanks to the international crisis in Iran and the Middle East, and nuclear had been ruled out after two high-profile nuclear meltdowns.
NASA pitched series of 60 gigantic geosynchronous platforms orbiting the planet, beaming down refined energy for the world's use. It was called the Solar Power System and would be comprised of a global network of gigantic photovoltaic arrays. And they were huge, with two long solar panel structures 5 km long by 4 km wide, or 3.1 miles by 2.4 miles - for a total of 11.73 kilometers long, 7.2 miles in imperial unites, and weighing the small amount of 10.42 million kilograms or 22.97 million pounds.
By being in orbit, weather, dust and day and night cycles would be eliminated, allowing 24/7 constant energy production. The electricity generated would be sent down via microwaves to a thin receiving mesh, that could be built anywhere, even over oceans.
"The SPS is an attractive, challenging, worthy project, which the aerospace community is well prepared and able to address," physicist Robert G. Jahn wrote in support of the project.
But the problem was – how would NASA even get these into orbit. So far, they had only launched the 77-metric-ton (85-U.S.-ton) Skylab into low-earth orbit using a huge Saturn 5 rockets left over from the apollo moon mission. The new solar powerplants weighed 100 times more than even the modern international space station above us today, and rockets wouldn’t cut it - it would need over 1,000 saturn 5 launches to get even one SPS into orbit - let alone 60. So NASA turned to Boeing for the solution.
The Space Freighter was Boeing’s pitch to solve the earth to orbit problem of the SPS program. As its name may infer, it was a rocket system slash space plane that would act like a lorry for space station componets for assembly in orbit. Each mission would have had a payload of around 424,000 kilograms or 934,000 pounds.
For the goal of two SPSs a year, this system would have required a stunning 240 space launched a year – or a turn around every 36 hours. Wommentating on the plans later in 1981, NASA made a very interesting observation.
"The magnitude and sustained nature of this advanced space transportation program concept requires long-term routine operations somewhat analogous to commercial airline/airfreight operations,".
Rockwell came up with this, the Airbreather/Rocket-Powered, Horizontal Takeoff Tridelta Flying Wing, Single-Stage-To-Orbit Transportation System, or dubbed today as "the Rockwell International Starraker. It was a space plane that was 103 meters (310 feet) long with a wing span of about 93 meters (280 feet), and would have carried a maximum of 89.2 metric tons (196,600 lbs) of cargo into low earth orbit around 300 nautical miles above the equator - or 555 kilometers. Overall this would have allowed firms to get payloads into orbit for a cost of $15 per pound ($55 per pound in 2010 dollars). In metric, this is $25 USD per kilograph.
For comparisons sake, Elon musk with his space x rockets costs around $2,720 per kilogram into orbit. So clearly, this dream of low-cost orbit delivery is totally insane.
thanks to its vast tri-delta wing blendered design, there was a great deal of internal volume for not only cargo but fuel as well. The cargo deck was modeled after the C-5 galaxy, 20 feet high and 20 feet wide, in a square shape, and 141 feet long. Thats 6 meters by 6 meters, bt 42.9 meters for those living outside the US.
The craft would have two engine systems, the first was conventional jet engines, specifically hydrogen fueled high bypass supersonic turbofan/air-turbo-exchanger/ramjet engines, each with 140,000 lbf of thrust. Then the space plane also had three hydrogen fuelled rocket engines, each with 1.06 million lbf of thrust and an ISP of 455 seconds - enough to get it into a high orbit.
Here is where it gets crazy, the aircraft would then rise to an altittude of 45,000 feet, before diving directly down to 37,000 feet to build up speed and break the sound barrier, then it would angle upwards to reach 95,000 feet, or 29 km before activating its rocket engines - hitting speeds up to Mach 7.2 .
In terms of the SPS program we outlined before, this would mean than 1100 flights would have been required each year
Yet- why was never built?
In the end, the star raker never really came close to development. it was a change in political power in the United States to the Reagan administration, and the price of oil plummeting that made this expensive enegy concept, the SPS, seem foolish.
Without a need for a launch craft, the whole concept unraveled. Work did continue on other projects, but thats a video for another day.Insane commercial plane concepts we ALMOST gotFound And Explained2024-10-20 | Merch Store! https://www.foundandexplained.shop
SAAB 37 VIGGENthe supersonic future we ALMOST got - 1 hour FULL documentaryFound And Explained2024-10-11 | Merch Store! https://www.foundandexplained.shop
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Join this channel to get access to perks: youtube.com/channel/UCpM4zrZ9c_apiEj6CApj2yw/join Patreon: patreon.com/foundandexplainedForgotten Prototypes: 1950s Experimental Planes | Full DocumentaryFound And Explained2024-06-24 | 0:00 Convair B-58 Hustler 29:21 Lockheed CL-346 44:49 Martin 262 Convoy Fighter 56:11 Convair SFY-1 Pogo 1:11:57 Convair Sea Dart 1:21:42 Martin P6M Seamaster 1:36:16 Martin XB-51 1:50:28 Boeing B-52 Stratofortress 2:01:12 Submarine Aircraft Carrier 2:27:49 Flying Platforms 2:39:49 The Walking Machines
Timestamps by Firefocus - Thank you!
Welcome to FOUND AND EXPLAINED! In this captivating compilation, we delve into the fascinating world of 1950s experimental aircraft prototypes developed by the US Air Force. Join us as we uncover rare and forgotten gems from aviation history, showcasing innovative designs and groundbreaking technology that pushed the boundaries of flight during this pivotal era. From stealthy jets to unconventional concepts, explore these lesser-known aircraft that once held the promise of shaping the future of aerial warfare. Don't miss out on this exclusive journey into the past, where each prototype tells a unique story of ambition, experimentation, and the quest for air superiority. Subscribe now for more intriguing discoveries and deep dives into the mysteries of history on FOUND AND EXPLAINED!
Join this channel to get access to perks: youtube.com/channel/UCpM4zrZ9c_apiEj6CApj2yw/join Patreon: patreon.com/foundandexplainedForgotten Prototypes: Soviet War Machines | Full DocumentaryFound And Explained2024-05-16 | This is a 4 hour Compilation of nearly every secret Soviet era engineering project that nearly / almost saw the light of day. In this full length documentary series compiled from past videos, we will explore the top secret designs that have been revealed in recent decades. These stories give us a glimpse into the world of some of the top minds of their day. 3d animations have been custom made to recreate and bring these insane, or boundary pushing injections to life on your screen.
We hope that you enjoy the show, and can sit back to relax and take in over 4 hours of history, engineering, imagination, inspiration, determination, and a little bit of 3d magic.The aircraft in the Fallout Universe are totally INSANEFound And Explained2024-05-10 | Merch Store! https://www.foundandexplained.shop
Discover the remarkable XB-51 bomber, an avant-garde aircraft that pushed the boundaries of aeronautical engineering during the Cold War. Developed by the United States in the early 1950s, the XB-51 was a testament to innovation and advanced design concepts.
This video delves into the XB-51's unique features, including its swept-wing configuration, unconventional three-engine layout, and sleek, futuristic appearance. With its forward-swept wings and slim fuselage, the XB-51 boasted exceptional speed and agility, making it a formidable presence in the skies.
Join us as we explore the history of the XB-51, from its inception to its role in shaping strategic bomber development. Learn about its cutting-edge avionics, groundbreaking flight characteristics, and the challenges faced by its designers and test pilots.
Despite its short-lived operational career, the XB-51 left an indelible mark on aviation history, influencing subsequent generations of bomber aircraft. Don't miss this opportunity to uncover the secrets of one of the most intriguing bombers of the Cold War era. Subscribe now for more captivating insights into aviation's past, present, and future!Russias giant submarines to invade North AmericaFound And Explained2024-02-24 | Sign up for a 14-day free trial and enjoy all the amazing features MyHeritage has to offer. bit.ly/FoundandExplained
Chapters: 0:00 - Russia has a problem 1:20 - World War 2 2:19 - Secret chapter 3:29 - Project 621 (no 1) 6:06 - Project 626 (no 2) 9:09 - Lets go bigger! 12:57 - What happened next?
In this video, we dive into the fascinating world of amphibious assault submarines. While the concept of these submarines, which are the theoretical equivalent of amphibious assault ships, has been explored by both the United States and the Soviet Union, none have ever been built. However, converted or standard submarines have often been used to transport small groups of soldiers or supplies.
In the Soviet Union, submarines played a crucial role during World War II, shuttling weapons, supplies, and special forces into besieged areas or behind enemy lines, notably during the siege of Sevastopol. After the war, the Soviets proposed Project 621, a landing ship-transport submarine that would have been one of the largest submarines of its time. It was designed to carry a full infantry battalion, tanks, trucks, cannons, and even fighter aircraft. Unfortunately, Project 621 was never built.
Undeterred, the Soviets continued to explore larger and more ambitious designs, such as Project 664 and Project 748. These submarines were intended to have additional capabilities, including underway replenishment for other submarines and submarine rescue. However, the complexity of combining these various functions, along with the need for nuclear propulsion, proved challenging, and these projects were eventually abandoned.
Meanwhile, in the United States, preliminary designs for submarine transports were also explored. In the 1950s, a massive 10,000-ton submarine capable of carrying 2,240 Marines was proposed. However, the extent of the U.S. Navy's design efforts in this area never reached the scale of the Soviet projects. Instead, older submarines were often refitted for transport purposes, particularly for covert operations and special forces deployments.
Although the amphibious assault submarine remains a theoretical concept, the ideas and lessons learned from these projects have influenced subsequent developments in the field. Join us as we explore the history and potential future of these remarkable vessels and their impact on naval warfare.
Make sure to subscribe to "Found and Explained" for more intriguing insights into historical and technological wonders!
Ok so you really came all the way down here. Does anyone even read this? Thats unreal. I'm very impressed. This video as actually really hard to make and took like 3 months with several amazing people. I had to find a genius from India to render the water and I don't think anyone will even notice! Thats the burden of film making I suppose but that's the point of special effects... your not supposed to notice them. Just like you haven't noticed this. At the end of the day I'm a creator and a person just like you writing this from the house I share with my parents. I'm not making billions off this, but I'm still SUPER lucky to have people like you (yes you reading this right now!!) that clicked on my little video. Thank you so much. You are special and have value. And even though it was one little view... I made this video for you. have a wonderful day.How Dubai made a new military drone in only a year!Found And Explained2024-02-20 | #sponsored Thank you to Edge for Sponsoring the channel and bringing Found and Explained to the Dubai Airshow this year. EDGE Group Sponsored this video. For more information, please got to: bit.ly/EdgeXFound