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For this edition of #SovietSpaceSundays, let's talk about what could have been: plans for the M-19 EMZ Myasishchev—an enormous nuclear-powered space plane!
H/T @NuclearAnthro for this one!
Enable my research!
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H/T @NuclearAnthro for this one!
Enable my research!
http://www.patreon.com/trgenovese
http://www.paypal.me/trgenovese
1/
First, a timeline:
In 1967, Vladimir Myasishchev re-founded his aerospace design bureau.
A few years later, after the US moon landing in 1969, the USSR showed interest in designing a spaceplane.
Myasishchev, who had previously dreamt of spaceplanes, quickly got to work.
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In 1967, Vladimir Myasishchev re-founded his aerospace design bureau.
A few years later, after the US moon landing in 1969, the USSR showed interest in designing a spaceplane.
Myasishchev, who had previously dreamt of spaceplanes, quickly got to work.
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His design was pretty amazing.
The M-19 would be a runway launched, single stage to orbit, nuclear-powered spaceplane!
And it was to be 70 meters (~230 feet) long!
Suck on that STS (even though it didn't exist yet)
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The M-19 would be a runway launched, single stage to orbit, nuclear-powered spaceplane!
And it was to be 70 meters (~230 feet) long!
Suck on that STS (even though it didn't exist yet)
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Now, Myasishchev understood that in order to get things green-lit in the USSR, it needed to have *at least* a dual purpose.
So he also designed the M-19 (L) to also be a Mach 6 bomber capable of flying at an altitude of 30km—*much* higher & faster than the USAF's XB-70 (R).
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So he also designed the M-19 (L) to also be a Mach 6 bomber capable of flying at an altitude of 30km—*much* higher & faster than the USAF's XB-70 (R).
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Now, how would this puppy work?
The 550 ton aircraft would first launch from a runway like an ordinary plane, except use turbofan engines burning liquid hydrogen.
Once it reached Mach 4 (just over 3,000 mph), it would switch over to hydrogen-burning scramjet engines.
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The 550 ton aircraft would first launch from a runway like an ordinary plane, except use turbofan engines burning liquid hydrogen.
Once it reached Mach 4 (just over 3,000 mph), it would switch over to hydrogen-burning scramjet engines.
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At an altitude of around 50 kilometers & when it reached Mach 16 (>12,000 mph), the NUCLEAR ROCKET ENGINE would take over & be used for orbital propulsion/maneuvering.
The M-19 was calculated to be able to lift ~44 ton payload to LEO in a ~15x13 ft cargo bay.
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The M-19 was calculated to be able to lift ~44 ton payload to LEO in a ~15x13 ft cargo bay.
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To return to Earth, the spacecraft would use the same propulsion in reverse order to make a *powered* landing.
The crew cabin would also be entirely ejectable, capable of safely returning the 3-7 cosmonauts via parachute in the event of an emergency.
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The crew cabin would also be entirely ejectable, capable of safely returning the 3-7 cosmonauts via parachute in the event of an emergency.
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By 1976, however, the USSR issued Decree 132-51.
It's enormous, deliciously bureaucratic name is below.
But basically it eliminated M-19 development in favor of the Buran.
And while I love my beloved Buran, it's hard not to feel frustrated after seeing the M-19 concept.
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It's enormous, deliciously bureaucratic name is below.
But basically it eliminated M-19 development in favor of the Buran.
And while I love my beloved Buran, it's hard not to feel frustrated after seeing the M-19 concept.
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So that was the demise of the M-19.
If this sounds interesting, more information can be found (in Russian) at the address below. I also ripped all the photos in this thread from that article.
9/ https://fishki.net/1699216-vozdushno-kosmicheskij-samolyot-m-19-jemz-vm-mjasiweva.html
If this sounds interesting, more information can be found (in Russian) at the address below. I also ripped all the photos in this thread from that article.
9/ https://fishki.net/1699216-vozdushno-kosmicheskij-samolyot-m-19-jemz-vm-mjasiweva.html
If this #SovietSpaceSundays was interesting & you want to help enable my research, consider becoming a patron on Patreon!
Anything helps in these precarious times, but no pressure.
Thanks/Спасибо & see you next time, friends & comrades!
10/10 http://www.patreon.com/trgenovese
Anything helps in these precarious times, but no pressure.
Thanks/Спасибо & see you next time, friends & comrades!
10/10 http://www.patreon.com/trgenovese
