Northrop Project 7969
Proj 7969 Northrop
Credit - © Mark Wade
Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Destination: Maximum Payload Orbit. Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Northrop.

Northrop's proposal for the Air Force initial manned space project was a boost-glide vehicle based on work done for the Dynasoar project.

The delta wing vehicle would weigh 5,000 kg and had a hypersonic lift to drag ratio of 6.0. As with Dynasoar, a test aircraft approach was taken, with a slow build-up to orbital speed.

Mass: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb).

Bibliography and Further Reading
  • Baker, David, The History of Manned Spaceflight, Crown, New York, 1981. The best overview of America's manned space programs up to Skylab. Information and details not available anywhere else. Unfortunately out of print and difficult to locate.
  • Grimwood, James M., Project Mercury: A Chronology, NASA Special Publication-4001.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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