| astronautix.com | Mustard |
A British Aircraft Corporation study of 1964-1965 for winged reuseable space shuttle using the 'triamese' concept - reduced costs by use of two boosters nearly identical to the orbiter vehicle. The components were lifting bodies with a configuration similar to the US HL-10 vehicle. MUSTARD was an abbreviation for Multi-Unit Space Transport And Recovery Device. The orbiter would be capable of reaching orbit with nearly a full fuel load, since propellant from the two boosters could be pumped into the orbiter prior to separation. This would have allowed the orbiter to reach the moon! Various configurations were examined such as (back-to-back, triangular back-to-back, 2 x back-to back and 1 inline). Developed by a team led by Tom Smith, the MUSTARD vehicles would have been capable of being flown back via remote control or by a pilot.
Liftoff Thrust: 488,890 kgf. Total Mass: 424,270 kg. Core Diameter: 4.0 m. Total Length: 36.0 m. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 54.00 million. in 1985 unit dollars.
British Aircraft Corporation study of 1964-1965 for winged reuseable space shuttle using the 'triamese' concept - reduced costs by use of two boosters nearly identical to the orbiter vehicle. The components were lifting bodies with a configuration similar to the US HL-10 vehicle.