Alternative History

The Saturn-Shuttle was a preliminary concept of launching the Space Shuttle orbiter using the Saturn V rocket. It was studied and considered in 1971-1972. An interstage would be fitted on top of the S-IC stage to support the external tank in the space occupied by the S-II stage in the Saturn V. It was an alternative to the SRBs.

The addition of wings (and some form of landing gear) on the S-IC stage would allow the booster to fly back to the Kennedy Space Center, where technicians would then refurbish the booster (by replacing only the five F-1 engines and reusing the tanks and other hardware for later flights).

The Shuttle would handle space station logistics, while Saturn V would launch components.

This would have allowed a space station, using a Skylab or Mir configuration with docking ports, to have been lifted with just a handful of launches. The Saturn-Shuttle concept also would have eliminated the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters that ultimately precipitated the Space Shuttle Challenger accident1986.

POD[]

On April 15, 1970, during the flight of Apollo 13, Commander Jim Lovell and Flight DIrector Gene Kranzs were discussing the possiblity of devrloping a new spacecraft capable of better fufilling the goals of NASA and to ensure a continued human presence in Space. These discussions mainly went along the topics of a Maned Space Station and a Space plane capable of bring payloads and conducting scientific experiments in space. Weeks after the missions, the duo joined by Dr. Wernher von Braun discussed this idea to the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Armed forces which wernt too eager of the plan but after several months of negoiation, both came to the conclusion that a proper Maned Space Laboratory and a Launch system capable is needed to suite the future needs of the Space Program so approved of the new programs dubed Project Skylab (Space Station) and Space Transportation System (STS)

NASA's focus in the 70's were now changed as Apollo Missions 18, 19, and 20 were canceled to suport these new programs.