ShuttleBug
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Gallery
Article by Alvis 3.1 |
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A large infusion of cash into the
European Space Agency in the late 1970s led to several unusual designs.
Ariane designed the Spaceplane, Britain designed the HOTOL spaceplane, and
Germany came up with: The ShuttleBug.
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images below to see larger images
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Utilising the natural lifting body
shape of the classic original Beetle, hypersonic wings and tail were grafted on,
an orbital guidance and steering system installed, and a pressure cabin
fabricated. The miniscule cargo bay could hold a Blaupunkt BP-22GMKFG orbital
pre-amp unit, or several cases of Lowenbrau. The two "Bug-o-nauts"
were to steer the vehicle to a projected rendezvous with an European Space
Platform (ESP), but it never got built.