Request Delta Advanced Re-Useable Transport (DART)

[Graham2001]

A little something I stumbled across on the NTRS while looking for information on the 1970s research into improving the energy efficiency of airliners. It seems to be a case of some University of Maryland students either pre-inventing the Dragon, or re-inventing Gemini.

The launch vehicle for this crew capsule was the Delta II.

Delta Advanced Reusable Transport (DART): An alternative manned spacecraft

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19930020546.pdf

DART: Delta Advanced Reusable Transport. An alternate manned space system proposal

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19920012128.pdf

As the pictures below show, there is enough detail in the two documents above to get something up and flying fairly quickly.

 

[Urwumpe]

I have the report already on my ExtHDD, its fun to read, might make a nice small capsule add-on for Orbiter, if somebody is willed to fill the gaps in the design....

 

[Graham2001]

I have the report already on my ExtHDD, its fun to read, might make a nice small capsule add-on for Orbiter, if somebody is willed to fill the gaps in the design....

Well that's why I picked it over two other University of Maryland designs from the same project that I found at the same time.

 

[Urwumpe]

Well that's why I picked it over two other University of Maryland designs from the same project that I found at the same time.

Well, the only real issue is that a lot of detail is missing and gaps would need to be filled for making it work in Orbiter.

 

[Graham2001]

Good luck and happy flying to whoever takes this one on...