The Saturn-Shuttle was a proposed interface of the Space Shuttle orbiter and external tank with the S-IC stage on the Saturn V rocket. An interstage would be fitted on top of the S-IC stage to support the external tank, formerly occupied by the S-II stage, so that NASA would have been able to steer completely away from solid rockets. The addition of wings on the S-IC stage would allow the booster to fly back to the Kennedy Space Center in which t...
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The Saturn-Shuttle was a proposed interface of the Space Shuttle orbiter and external tank with the S-IC stage on the Saturn V rocket. An interstage would be fitted on top of the S-IC stage to support the external tank, formerly occupied by the S-II stage, so that NASA would have been able to steer completely away from solid rockets. The addition of wings on the S-IC stage would allow the booster to fly back to the Kennedy Space Center in which the technicians would then refurbish the booster (by replacing only the five F-1 engines and reusing the tanks and other hardware for later flights).
Because the Shuttle orbiter would be riding piggyback on the External Tank, and the need to prevent damage to the delicate thermal protection tiles, the five-engine variant of the Saturn-Shuttle would require the center engine to be shut down 45 to 50 seconds after launch, while two of the outboard engines would have to be shut down prior to staging. Once the S-IC was jettisoned, the three onboard...
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