AAWSAP DIRD, Space Access: Where We’ve Been and Where We Could Go, March 2010

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Appendix A: Historical Perspective
The four reports listed below and summarized in this paper are as applicable today as
they were when they were released in 1964 and 1965:
•
Robert R. Stephens; "Mission Requirements of Lifting Systems-Engineering Aspects";
Volume I Condensed Summary; McDonnell Aircraft Company Report B831 for NASA
Manned Spacecraft Center; contract NAS-9-3562; August 1965.
•
Robert R. Stephens; "Mission Requirements of Lifting Systems-Engineering Aspects";
Volume II Mission Analysis - Spacecraft Selection - Performance Analysis;
McDonnell Aircraft Company Report B831 for NASA Manned Spacecraft Center;
contract NAS-9-3562; August 1965.
•
Robert R. Stephens; "Study of the Engineering Aspects, Mission Requirements of
Lifting Systems"; Summary of Significant Results and Figures from Report MAC­
B831; McDonnell Aircraft Company Report B947 for NASA Manned Spacecraft Center;
contract NAS-9-3562; August 1965.
•
"Manned Hypersonic Test Vehicle Study"; McDonnell Aircraft Company Report A9727
for United States Force; contract AF(33)600-2751; August 1964.
These reports describe an operational space station with an operational spacecraft fleet
to support the orbital station in space. The term operational is used because the
concept was not for a research and development spacecraft like an X-15 but a
transportation system that moved resources to and from space, much like an
operational FedEx or UPS operation . The work in the mid 1960s by a number of
aerospace companies set the stage for the discussion of the development of the
spacecraft configurations based on requirements and the propulsion systems that
emerge to meet those requirements. These four reports are representative of the
approach and designs that were prevalent in that period. Those involved with
developing the orbital station and its supporting fleets of operational spacecraft were
fully convinced that the industrial capability, materials, and resources permitted
successful accomplishment of the task in 1962. The space station goals and the
spacecraft required to meet those goals are especially interesting in light of today's
discussion about crew rescue vehicles and the crew complement that should staff the
International Space Station . What is different was that the station was a rotating
station to provide a fraction of the Earth's gravity and was fabricated primarily from
empty Saturn rocket components sent to orbit that were fitted with provisions to make
them habitable.
The purpose of the study was to establish the operational requirements, spacecraft
configuration, and requirements. The principal support mission was designed around a
rotating space station constructed from Saturn 1B components and Saturn 1B lifted
components. The station was designed for 20 to 27 persons, each on the station for a
6-month period. The nominal life of a given research program was assumed to be as
long as 5 years. The spacecraft that supported the orbital station wou ld be designed to
carry 9 to 12 persons or materials to resupply the station. For that goal, a 7-metric ton
payload (15,435 lb) was deemed sufficient. The study identified that each replacement
person would have a 994-lb (450-kg) resource supply payload to accompany each
crewmember. For a 12-person crew-replacement mission, the crew-replacement
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