1975 Rockwell International 'Design Phase' Blueprint of Space Shuttle

This is a September 1975 design-phase Rockwell International blueprint of the Space Shuttle (Orbiter) - measuring some 12 feet in length! It was prepared for Rockwell International, the primary contractor responsible for the Space Shuttle's design and construction. This 1975 blueprint represents the mid-design phase, in which Space Shuttle prototypes underwent atmospheric test flights. It is the only known design-phase Space Shuttle blueprint in private hands.

A Closer Look

The blueprint illustrates the Space Shuttle launch vehicle from three perspectives, providing details on component attachment. The two largest diagrams, near center, illustrate the Space Shuttle launch vehicle from the top and the side. The Space Shuttle's engines, connections with the external tank, and other components are highlighed with hand color. A table to the left provides attach coordinates for the Orbiter, External Tank, and Solid Rocket Boosters. To the right, a diagram presents the launch vehicle from the bottom, highlighting the Orbiter's engines, wings, and tail in hand color and parts of the Solid Rocket Boosters. Finally, problems between the current and previous drawings are noted on the extreme right, and a very small diagram of the four individual components is provided. A text box in the upper right corner notes the latest versions of the drawing and the updates to those versions.

Space Shuttle Program

The Space Shuttle Program, officially known as the Space Transportation System (STS), was a pioneering spaceflight initiative led by NASA from 1981 to 2011. It aimed to provide reusable access to space, facilitating both manned missions and satellite deployments. The design phase began in 1969, with engineering development accelerating through the early 1970s. The Space Shuttle's design was finalized in the mid-1970s, leading to the construction of the first orbiter, Enterprise. After successful test flights, the first operational Space Shuttle, Columbia, launched on April 12, 1981, inaugurating the Operational Phase of the Space Shuttle Program. The Space Shuttle fleet consisted of five operational orbiters: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. The program's significant milestones included the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope, the construction of the International Space Station (ISS), and numerous scientific experiments. Despite its achievements, the program faced tragedies with the 1986 Challenger Disaster and the 2003 Columbia Disaster, leading to rigorous safety overhauls. After 135 missions, the program concluded with STS-135, the final flight of Atlantis, marking the end of an era and transitioning NASA's focus to new exploration initiatives and commercial partnerships.

Publication History and Census

This blueprint was drawn by W. McConnell for Rockwell International Corporation Space Division (now Boeing) and updated twice, with the final update dated September 5, 1975. This is the only known cataloged example of this blueprint, and the only example of working design-phase shuttle blueprint in private hands. We have found only one reference to this blueprint in digitized records: in a report prepared by REMTECH, Inc. in January 1978 for the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center.