ROMBUS
The Factory Models
ROMBUS
The Factory Models
How a basic display might be arranged. |
Another angle of the same display. |
A vehicle stack made up of a ROMBUS first stage and an ITHACUS second stage. The separate ROMBUS payload section and aerospike engine assembly are seen on the left. |
ROMBUS on the left, ITHACUS on the right. |
ROMBUS, a reusable sub-orbital transport designed to move large payloads from one point on Earth to another or as a first stage for an orbital vehicle. ROMBUS featured an "aerospike" engine and the row of small engines can be seen around the base. |
An unknown project on the right and space station HOPE on the left. |
Unidentified project. |
Space station HOPE built in the body and adapter section of an SIV stage with two Gemini supply / transport vehicles. |
THORINE, a payload orbital transfer bus. |
MORL, Manned Orbiting Research Laboratory. Based on a SIV booster
and adapter shroud. |
L to R, Saturn C1, a display of future projects and "Skybolt" the air launched
ICBM. |
Thor booster on left and future projects on right including the collapsible
space station / space base and a collapsible lander. |
Detail model of the collapsible space station. |
The collapsible space station / base. |
A collapsible lunar lander! |
Saturn C1 and pad with cut-away SIV and early twin engined Apollo service module. |
Saturn C1 and pad with cut-away SIV and early twin engined Apollo service module. |
Early Saturn C1 with cut-away SIV stage. |
Early Saturn C1 with cut-away SIV stage. |
Saturn C1 with cut-away SIV stage. |
Douglas C-133 modified to transport Saturn 1B first stage assemblies by
air. |
Douglas C-133 carrying a Saturn SIVB stage. |
Model showing various payloads which the modified C-133 could carry. |
The Saturn C1 first stage. |
Early Saturn V stack showing cut-away SIVB stage. |
Early Saturn V stack showing cut-away SIVB stage. |
A basic cut-away model of the SIV stage. |
A detailed cut-away model of the SIV stage |
Extra-large size Saturn SIVB stage and adapter shroud from front. |
Extra-large size Saturn SIVB stage and adapter shroud from rear. |
Factory Display Models
This collection of images comes from a book used as a catalog of displays available for loan to different groups and events. These photos came with no captions, only notes regarding the physical size and weight of each item. However most need no captions as their purpose or identity is obvious from examination of the image itself. These pictures provide a fascinating glimpse at the concepts on the drawing boards at the time as well as the early versions of hardware which would actually be built. Those of you who are "Star Trek" fans may recognize the collapsible space station seen here as the basis of "Space Station K-7" from the episode "The Trouble with Tribbles". The original idea was to provide a space station which could be launched on a single booster then fold out into its final form without having to assemble parts from many launches (thus saving construction time). Examination of the photos will reveal the telescoping segments which would pivot to form the saucer shaped portions. The ROMBUS design may be recognizable to many as the vehicle design featured in the old Disneyland "Flight to the Moon" ride. In the early years of "Disneyland" the Douglas Aircraft Company would be a major supporter the parks "Tomorrow land" and would eventually see its company name painted on the large rocket displayed there after TWA Airlines withdrew its sponsorship.
Please contact Phil Broad if you have comments about these images or corrections to the information presented here via E-Mail.