Flying Wing Space Shuttle Idea

[Cobra]

Hey Guys, Just had a Thought:What If NASA,ESA,Etc. were to Create a 'Flying Wing' Space Shuttle for Use?? think it would Work or Not?? just something that struck me & i thought i'd ask. I'm asking because i've Seen some Pretty Wild Shuttle Concepts & Just thought i'd ask. Thanks for Looking. Dan

[Weaver]

Depends what you mean by a flying wing. A lot of shuttle concepts are/were "lifting bodies" where the whole airframe generates lift while still being a suitable shape for re-entry, so I suppose they technically count as "flying wings". The classic flying wing shape, i.e. more "wing with all the stuff in" rather than "fuselage that lifts" are unlikely as shuttle designs because they are poor re-entry shapes, and re-entry is the dominant design factor.

[jcf]

Depends what you mean by a flying wing. A lot of shuttle concepts are/were "lifting bodies" where the whole airframe generates lift while still being a suitable shape for re-entry, so I suppose they technically count as "flying wings". The classic flying wing shape, i.e. more "wing with all the stuff in" rather than "fuselage that lifts" are unlikely as shuttle designs because they are poor re-entry shapes, and re-entry is the dominant design factor.

I dunno a 'Flaming Boomerang' would be kinda pretty on re-entry ... once. 

[martinbayer]

Over the decades there have been a few flying wing RLV designs (both SSTO and TSTO), such as the Aerojet-General Astroplane:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5349.0
http://dreamsofspace.nfshost.com/1965orbitingstations.htm
and the Boeing Model 887-23 ASP concept:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1079.0;all
And the Rockwell C-1057 Breadbox Shuttle design falls at least somewhat loosely into this category as well...
http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/RockwellC-1057BreadboxShuttlePage.htm

Martin

[martinbayer]

For whatever reason, the Boeing ASP picture didn't fit into the previous email. Another uncrewed flying wing orbiter concept on a smaller scale was the German PLATO Platform Orbiter concept, which was specifically identified by its designers as a flying wing rather than a lifting body:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6177.0;prev_next=next

Martin

[Stargazer]

and the Boeing Model 877-23 ASP concept:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1079.0;all

Cool, but that's 887, not 877!

[martinbayer]

Thanks for the correction!

Martin