ArmorandClaude Opus 4.7
5a1c28e819
- Add CERV Shuttle zh+en wiki pages with full technical specs, fleet data, mission history - Realign all shuttle pages to current simulation time (2060-03-12): - Vulture B1 first flight 2037, B1.5 conversion 2051-2053, B2 first flight 2055 - Echo first flight 2056, operational 2057 - Enterprise first flight 2057, operational 2058 - Update CERV technical data: dimensions, masses, fuel quantities, endurance - Expand Vulture fleet with 10 named orbiters, 3-batch structure, rich events table - Update CERV booster recovery to RTLS mode - Move reference files to reference/ directory - Save simulation_time memory reference Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 <noreply@anthropic.com>
350 lines
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350 lines
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<article class="mw-parser-output wiki-article">
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<h1 id="vulture-shuttle">Vulture Shuttle</h1>
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<table class="infobox">
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<caption>Vulture Shuttle<span>秃鹫航天飞机</span></caption>
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<tbody>
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<tr><td><a class="media-link" href="#vulture-img-stack"><img src="/vulture/vulture_shuttle_full_stack_original.png" alt="Vulture Shuttle full launch stack" data-wiki-asset="/vulture/vulture_shuttle_full_stack_original.png"></a><div class="thumbcaption">The Vulture Shuttle stack consists of the MK4 orbiter, an external tank, and two reusable liquid boosters.</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Type</b>: Partially reusable heavy shuttle system</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Lineage</b>: STS Shuttle - CERV Shuttle - Vulture Shuttle</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Predecessor</b>: CERV Shuttle</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Development start</b>: 2030</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>First flight</b>: March 2037 (VLT-01, uncrewed orbital test, VS-01 <i>Endurance</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Entered service</b>: 2039</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Main launch site</b>: Wenchang</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Typical target orbit</b>: 1000 km x 1000 km, 45 degrees</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Block 1 payload</b>: 100 t to the typical target orbit</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Zero-payload liftoff mass</b>: 4065.9 t</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Liftoff thrust</b>: 61,949 kN</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Maximum crew</b>: 19</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Status</b>: In service</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Total flights</b>: 2,266 (through March 2060)</td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
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<p>The <b>Vulture Shuttle</b> is the third major vehicle in the STS Shuttle - CERV Shuttle - Vulture Shuttle lineage in this alternate spaceflight timeline. It keeps the classic orbiter, external tank, and side-booster arrangement, but replaces solid boosters with reusable liquid boosters and scales the orbiter into the large MK4 class.</p>
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<p>Vulture development began in 2030 as a heavy successor to CERV. The first uncrewed orbital test flight, VLT-01, launched in March 2037 aboard VS-01 <i>Endurance</i>. The system entered operational service in 2039 and became the primary shuttle-line heavy transport after CERV retirement in 2040. By March 2060 the fleet had accumulated 2,266 flights across ten orbiters in three blocks.</p>
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<nav class="toc" aria-label="Contents">
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<div class="toc-title">Contents</div>
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<ol>
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<li><a href="#development">Development</a></li>
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<li><a href="#system-components">System components</a></li>
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<li><a href="#mission-profile">Mission profile</a></li>
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<li><a href="#fleet">Fleet</a></li>
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<li><a href="#operational-history">Operational history</a></li>
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<li><a href="#block-15">Block 1.5</a></li>
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<li><a href="#block-2">Block 2</a></li>
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<li><a href="#safety-and-incidents">Safety and incidents</a></li>
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<li><a href="#launch-history">Launch history</a></li>
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<li><a href="#specifications">Specifications</a></li>
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<li><a href="#images">Images</a></li>
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<li><a href="#see-also">See also</a></li>
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</ol>
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</nav>
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<h2 id="development">Development</h2>
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<p>The alternate timeline diverges from real-world shuttle history after the Columbia accident, which still occurs in 2003 and becomes the central safety lesson for later shuttle development. The CERV Shuttle, developed from 2005 and first flown in 2015, extends the shuttle lineage with an integrated crew-cabin escape system, modern avionics, and improved maintainability. CERV operated from 2017 to 2040, accumulating 666 flights.</p>
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<p>Vulture development begins in 2030 as a heavier successor to CERV. Instead of being a modest safety upgrade, it is designed for heavy high-orbit logistics, large station modules, and the assembly of interplanetary exploration motherships. Key choices include an enlarged MK4 orbiter, a 10 m external tank, reusable 5 m liquid boosters, and an expanded crew escape concept inherited from CERV. The first Block 1 orbiter, VS-01 <i>Endurance</i>, conducted its maiden uncrewed orbital flight in March 2037. After a two-year test and certification campaign, Vulture entered operational service in 2039. CERV was fully retired in 2040, completing the handover to the third-generation shuttle.</p>
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<h2 id="system-components">System components</h2>
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<h3 id="orbiter">Orbiter</h3>
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<figure class="thumb tright"><a class="media-link" href="#vulture-img-ascent"><img src="/vulture/vulture_ascent_original.png" alt="Vulture Shuttle during ascent" data-wiki-asset="/vulture/vulture_ascent_original.png"></a><figcaption class="thumbcaption">The MK4 orbiter uses a large delta wing, wingtip vertical tails, canards, and a retractable nose docking port.</figcaption></figure>
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<p>The MK4 orbiter is the crew, payload, and on-orbit operations core of the system. It has a large delta wing, wingtip vertical tails, forward canards, a pressurized crew cabin, a large cargo bay, OMS/RCS propulsion, two atmospheric jet engines, and five RS-25E main engines fed by the external tank during ascent.</p>
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<p>The payload bay can accommodate cargo about 5.4 m long, 7.75 m wide, and 29.5 m high. This makes Vulture especially useful for wide station modules, large radiators, truss sections, and mothership components that are difficult to package inside cylindrical expendable fairings.</p>
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<h3 id="external-tank">External tank</h3>
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<p>The external tank stores liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for the orbiter's main engines. It is 10 m in diameter, carries 1612.2 t of propellant, and has a dry mass of 31.5 t. Unlike the STS external tank, it uses a lower-shedding insulation coating rather than traditional foam in order to reduce debris risk to the orbiter thermal protection system.</p>
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<h3 id="liquid-boosters">Liquid boosters</h3>
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<figure class="thumb tleft"><a class="media-link" href="#vulture-img-recovery"><img src="/vulture/vulture_booster_recovery_original.png" alt="Vulture liquid booster recovery" data-wiki-asset="/vulture/vulture_booster_recovery_original.png"></a><figcaption class="thumbcaption">The liquid boosters return to the launch site after separation and land propulsively.</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Two 5 m liquid boosters provide most liftoff thrust. Each booster carries 19 Tianhuo-12 LOX/kerosene engines, burns for about 135 seconds, then separates and performs RTLS recovery using grid fins, hot-gas RCS, landing legs, and propulsive landing.</p>
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<h2 id="mission-profile">Mission profile</h2>
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<figure class="thumb tright"><a class="media-link" href="#vulture-img-separation"><img src="/vulture/vulture_booster_separation_original.png" alt="Vulture liquid booster separation" data-wiki-asset="/vulture/vulture_booster_separation_original.png"></a><figcaption class="thumbcaption">After booster cutoff, the reusable liquid boosters separate and return to the launch site while the orbiter and external tank continue upward.</figcaption></figure>
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<p>During ascent, the liquid boosters and five RS-25E main engines operate together. After booster cutoff and separation, the boosters return to the launch site while the orbiter and external tank continue to a high suborbital insertion. After main engine cutoff, the orbiter separates from the external tank and uses OMS burns to enter and raise its orbit.</p>
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<p>Abort modes include pad abort, RTLS, Abort to Orbit, and Abort Once Around. Because the orbiter has five RS-25E engines, not every main-engine shutdown triggers an abort. After booster separation, one failed RS-25E is usually tolerated; after T+6 minutes, two failures may still permit orbit insertion; after T+8 minutes, three shutdowns can still result in a low-margin but normal orbit if other systems remain healthy.</p>
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<h2 id="fleet">Fleet</h2>
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<p>Ten Vulture orbiters have been built across three blocks. Five Block 1 orbiters have been retired, two Block 1.5 orbiters are currently active, and three Block 2 orbiters are currently active. Flight rates are approximately 12 flights per year per Block 1 orbiter, 24 per year per Block 1.5 orbiter, and 48 per year per Block 2 orbiter.</p>
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<h3 id="fleet-block1">Block 1 (Retired)</h3>
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<table>
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<thead><tr><th>Vehicle</th><th>Name</th><th>Service Period</th><th>Total Flights</th><th>Status</th></tr></thead>
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<tbody>
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<tr><td>VS-01</td><td><i>Endurance</i></td><td>2037-03 to 2057-06</td><td>240</td><td>Retired</td></tr>
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<tr><td>VS-02</td><td><i>Perseverance</i></td><td>2038-01 to 2057-11</td><td>235</td><td>Retired</td></tr>
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<tr><td>VS-03</td><td><i>Courage</i></td><td>2039-05 to 2058-03</td><td>240</td><td>Retired</td></tr>
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<tr><td>VS-04</td><td><i>Determination</i></td><td>2040-02 to 2058-08</td><td>228</td><td>Retired</td></tr>
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<tr><td>VS-05</td><td><i>Patience</i></td><td>2041-07 to 2056-12</td><td>132</td><td>Retired</td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
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<p>VS-05 <i>Patience</i> underwent a nuclear thermal OMS conversion in 2048, which reduced its flight rate compared to other Block 1 vehicles. All five Block 1 orbiters operated at a nominal rate of 12 flights per year. The Block 1 fleet accumulated 1,075 flights before the last vehicle retired in August 2058.</p>
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<h3 id="fleet-block15">Block 1.5 (Active as of March 2060)</h3>
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<table>
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<thead><tr><th>Vehicle</th><th>Name</th><th>Block 1 Period</th><th>Conversion</th><th>Block 1.5 Period</th><th>Flights (B1/B1.5)</th><th>Status</th></tr></thead>
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<tbody>
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<tr><td>VS-06</td><td><i>Fortitude</i></td><td>2042 to 2051</td><td>2051-2052</td><td>2052 to present</td><td>305 (108 / 197)</td><td>Active</td></tr>
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<tr><td>VS-07</td><td><i>Loyalty</i></td><td>2043 to 2052</td><td>2052-2053</td><td>2053 to present</td><td>280 (108 / 172)</td><td>Active</td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
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<p>VS-06 <i>Fortitude</i> and VS-07 <i>Loyalty</i> were originally built as Block 1 vehicles and served in that configuration for approximately nine years each. Both were converted to Block 1.5 standard with nuclear aerospike propulsion and continue to operate at approximately 24 flights per year each.</p>
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<h3 id="fleet-block2">Block 2 (Active as of March 2060)</h3>
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<table>
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<thead><tr><th>Vehicle</th><th>Name</th><th>Service Period</th><th>Total Flights</th><th>Status</th></tr></thead>
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<tbody>
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<tr><td>VS-08</td><td><i>Honor</i></td><td>2055-03 to present</td><td>250</td><td>Active</td></tr>
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<tr><td>VS-09</td><td><i>Conviction</i></td><td>2056-06 to present</td><td>202</td><td>Active</td></tr>
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<tr><td>VS-10</td><td><i>Hope</i></td><td>2057-08 to present</td><td>154</td><td>Active</td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
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<p>All three Block 2 vehicles operate at approximately 48 flights per year each. Built with nuclear aerospike propulsion from the start, they carry about 120 t to low lunar orbit and are the primary heavy-lift vehicles for the current fleet.</p>
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<h2 id="operational-history">Operational history</h2>
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<p>Vulture's first flight, VLT-01, launched in March 2037 with VS-01 <i>Endurance</i> on an uncrewed orbital test mission. VS-02 <i>Perseverance</i> joined the fleet in January 2038. After a two-year test and certification campaign, Vulture entered operational service in 2039, with VS-03 <i>Courage</i> joining that May. VS-04 <i>Determination</i> followed in February 2040, and CERV completed its handover with retirement the same year.</p>
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<p>Through the 2040s, the Block 1 fleet expanded to seven vehicles with the addition of VS-05 <i>Patience</i> (July 2041), VS-06 <i>Fortitude</i> (2042), and VS-07 <i>Loyalty</i> (2043). With seven Block 1 orbiters each flying approximately 12 times per year, the fleet achieved an annual rate of about 84 flights. VS-05 underwent a nuclear thermal OMS conversion in 2048, pioneering high-energy propulsion integration on the MK4 airframe, though this reduced its flight rate for the remainder of its career.</p>
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<p>During the 2040s and early 2050s, Vulture supported large orbital facilities and the construction of exploration motherships, including Xihe (XH-01), Stellaria (ST-01), and the second early ST-series Stellaria-class ship (ST-02). The fleet reached its peak Block 1 tempo in the late 2040s.</p>
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<p>In 2051, VS-06 <i>Fortitude</i> was withdrawn from Block 1 service for conversion to Block 1.5 standard, completing the process in 2052. VS-07 <i>Loyalty</i> followed, converting between 2052 and 2053. The Block 1.5 vehicles operate at approximately 24 flights per year each, roughly double the Block 1 rate.</p>
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<p>The Block 2 era began in March 2055 with the first flight of VS-08 <i>Honor</i>, followed by VS-09 <i>Conviction</i> in June 2056 and VS-10 <i>Hope</i> in August 2057. Block 2 vehicles operate at approximately 48 flights per year each. The Block 1 fleet phased out during 2056-2058, with VS-05 retiring in December 2056, VS-01 in June 2057, VS-02 in November 2057, VS-03 in March 2058, and VS-04 in August 2058.</p>
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<p>As of March 2060, the active fleet consists of five vehicles: two Block 1.5 (VS-06, VS-07) and three Block 2 (VS-08, VS-09, VS-10), with the fleet having accumulated a total of 2,266 flights.</p>
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<p>The Echo Shuttle (first flight 2056, operational 2057) and Enterprise Shuttle (first flight 2057, operational 2058) have since joined the shuttle lineage as fourth-generation SSTO-capable vehicles, complementing the Vulture fleet in the late 2050s.</p>
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<h2 id="block-15">Block 1.5</h2>
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<p>Block 1.5 is a high-energy propulsion conversion of the VS-06 and VS-07 Block 1 orbiters. It installs nuclear aerospike engines and modifies propellant management, thermal isolation, aft structure, flight software, and ground safety procedures. Its core ability is SSTO operation, but payload is reduced to about 40 t. Conversion of each vehicle takes approximately one year. Flight rate increases from the Block 1 baseline of 12 to approximately 24 flights per year per orbiter.</p>
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<h2 id="block-2">Block 2</h2>
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<p>Block 2 is a later production standard rather than a simple conversion. VS-08, VS-09, and VS-10 are built around nuclear aerospike propulsion, deep-space communications, high-energy propellant management, and stricter re-entry limits. Block 2 can carry about 120 t directly to low lunar orbit and return, but return payload is limited to about 40 t and requires braking to low-Earth-orbit-class re-entry speed. Block 2 vehicles operate at approximately 48 flights per year each. First flight was VS-08 <i>Honor</i> in March 2055.</p>
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<h2 id="safety-and-incidents">Safety and incidents</h2>
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<figure class="thumb tright"><a class="media-link" href="#vulture-img-ignition"><img src="/vulture/vulture_shuttle_ignition_original.png" alt="Vulture Shuttle engine ignition" data-wiki-asset="/vulture/vulture_shuttle_ignition_original.png"></a><figcaption class="thumbcaption">Pad abort logic was a central part of the Vulture safety case, especially before booster ignition.</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Vulture's safety design responds directly to STS-era risks: solid boosters are replaced by throttleable liquid boosters, external-tank insulation shedding is reduced, orbiter leading edges and belly tiles are instrumented, and the crew cabin can separate as an escape module in a wider range of emergencies.</p>
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<table>
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<thead><tr><th>Mission</th><th>Year</th><th>Event</th><th>Outcome</th></tr></thead>
|
|
<tbody>
|
|
<tr><td>VLT-02</td><td>2037</td><td>Pad abort after RS-25E sensor disagreement</td><td>Main engines shut down before booster ignition</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>VLT-14</td><td>2038</td><td>Abort to Orbit after two early RS-25E shutdowns</td><td>Safe parking orbit and early return</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>VLT-287</td><td>2045</td><td>Two RS-25E shutdowns after T+6 minutes</td><td>Normal orbit with OMS correction</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>VLT-831</td><td>2053</td><td>Three RS-25E shutdowns after T+8 minutes</td><td>Low-margin normal orbit</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>VLT-1135</td><td>2056</td><td>Block 2 braking anomaly before lunar-return re-entry</td><td>Return delayed and completed safely</td></tr>
|
|
</tbody></table>
|
|
<h2 id="launch-history">Launch history</h2>
|
|
<p>The Vulture fleet accumulated 2,266 flights between March 2037 and March 2060. Annual flight rate grew from 8 flights in the partial first year to a peak of 205 in 2057 as Block 2 vehicles came online. As of March 2060 the fleet is flying at an annualized rate of approximately 192 flights per year (2 Block 1.5 at 24/yr each + 3 Block 2 at 48/yr each).</p>
|
|
<div class="launch-chart" role="img" aria-label="Vulture Shuttle historical launch count chart">
|
|
<div class="launch-row launch-head"><span>Year</span><span>Flights</span><span>No.</span><span>Total</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-stage-label">Test and certification phase (Block 1, 1-2 orbiters)</div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2037</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:4%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">8</span><span class="launch-cumulative">8</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2038</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:11%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">22</span><span class="launch-cumulative">30</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2039</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:16%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">33</span><span class="launch-cumulative">63</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2040</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:22%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">45</span><span class="launch-cumulative">108</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-stage-label">Block 1 fleet expansion (reaching 7 orbiters by 2043)</div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2041</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:26%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">54</span><span class="launch-cumulative">162</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2042</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:35%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">72</span><span class="launch-cumulative">234</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2043</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:41%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">84</span><span class="launch-cumulative">318</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-stage-label">Full Block 1 operations (7 orbiters at 12/yr each)</div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2048</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:41%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">84</span><span class="launch-cumulative">738</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-stage-label">Mothership construction peak / Block 1.5 conversion</div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2052</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:41%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">84</span><span class="launch-cumulative">1,068</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-stage-label">Block 1.5 operations begin</div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2053</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:53%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">108</span><span class="launch-cumulative">1,176</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2054</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:53%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">108</span><span class="launch-cumulative">1,284</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-stage-label">Block 2 introduction</div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2055</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:72%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">148</span><span class="launch-cumulative">1,432</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2056</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:90%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">184</span><span class="launch-cumulative">1,616</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-stage-label">Peak operations (Block 1 retirement, Block 2 full rate)</div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2057</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:100%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">205</span><span class="launch-cumulative">1,821</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2058</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:99%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">203</span><span class="launch-cumulative">2,024</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2059</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:94%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">192</span><span class="launch-cumulative">2,216</span></div>
|
|
<div class="launch-row"><span>2060</span><span class="launch-track"><span class="launch-bar" style="width:24%;"></span></span><span class="launch-count">50</span><span class="launch-cumulative"><b>2,266</b></span></div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<p style="font-size:90%; color:#54595d;">2060 figures are through March only. Peak annual flight rate was 205 launches in 2057. The active fleet as of March 2060 consists of 2 Block 1.5 and 3 Block 2 orbiters, producing an annualized rate of approximately 192 flights.</p>
|
|
<h2 id="specifications">Specifications</h2>
|
|
<table>
|
|
<thead><tr><th>Parameter</th><th>Value</th></tr></thead>
|
|
<tbody>
|
|
<tr><td>Launch stack length</td><td>72 m</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Zero-payload liftoff mass</td><td>4065.9 t</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Liftoff thrust</td><td>61,949 kN</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Block 1 orbiter dry mass</td><td>111.6 t</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Orbiter length</td><td>61.5 m</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Orbiter wingspan</td><td>43.5 m</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Main engines</td><td>5 RS-25E engines; maximum burn time 10 min 16 s</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>OMS propellant</td><td>45.9 t MMH/NTO</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Atmospheric jet fuel</td><td>10 t kerosene</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Jet engine thrust</td><td>480 kN x 2 dry / 735.8 kN x 2 afterburning</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Life support</td><td>19 people for 26 days</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Cargo bay</td><td>About 5.4 m x 7.75 m x 29.5 m</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>External tank propellant</td><td>1612.2 t</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>External tank dry mass</td><td>31.5 t</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Booster dry mass</td><td>46.5 t each</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Booster burn time</td><td>135 s</td></tr>
|
|
</tbody></table>
|
|
<h2 id="images">Images</h2>
|
|
<table>
|
|
<thead><tr><th>Image</th><th>Content</th><th>Placement</th></tr></thead>
|
|
<tbody>
|
|
<tr><td>Full launch stack</td><td>MK4 orbiter, external tank, and two reusable liquid boosters.</td><td>Infobox</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Engine ignition</td><td>Pad ignition and early abort context.</td><td>Safety</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Ascent</td><td>Three-part ascent stack and MK4 wing layout.</td><td>Orbiter section</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Booster recovery</td><td>RTLS recovery and propulsive landing of the liquid boosters.</td><td>Liquid boosters section</td></tr>
|
|
<tr><td>Booster separation</td><td>Booster cutoff, separation, and continuation of orbiter/external tank ascent.</td><td>Mission profile</td></tr>
|
|
</tbody></table>
|
|
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>CERV Shuttle</li>
|
|
<li><a href="/home/Space_Shuttles/Vulture_Shuttle_Block_2">Vulture Shuttle Block 2</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="/home/Space_Shuttles/Echo_Shuttle">Echo Shuttle</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="/home/Space_Shuttles/Enterprise_Shuttle">Enterprise Shuttle</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="/home/Exploration_Motherships/Xihe">Xihe-class interplanetary exploration mothership</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="/home/Exploration_Motherships/Stellaria">Stellaria-class interplanetary exploration mothership</a></li>
|
|
<li>Nuclear aerospike engine</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
<div id="vulture-img-stack" class="wiki-modal"><div class="wiki-modal-card"><a class="modal-close" href="#">x</a><img src="/vulture/vulture_shuttle_full_stack_original.png" alt="Vulture Shuttle full launch stack" data-wiki-asset="/vulture/vulture_shuttle_full_stack_original.png"><div class="thumbcaption">Full Vulture Shuttle launch stack with the MK4 orbiter, external tank, and two liquid boosters.</div></div></div>
|
|
<div id="vulture-img-ignition" class="wiki-modal"><div class="wiki-modal-card"><a class="modal-close" href="#">x</a><img src="/vulture/vulture_shuttle_ignition_original.png" alt="Vulture Shuttle engine ignition" data-wiki-asset="/vulture/vulture_shuttle_ignition_original.png"><div class="thumbcaption">Engine ignition before launch, relevant to pad-abort procedures and early flight safety.</div></div></div>
|
|
<div id="vulture-img-ascent" class="wiki-modal"><div class="wiki-modal-card"><a class="modal-close" href="#">x</a><img src="/vulture/vulture_ascent_original.png" alt="Vulture Shuttle during ascent" data-wiki-asset="/vulture/vulture_ascent_original.png"><div class="thumbcaption">Vulture Shuttle during ascent, showing the MK4 orbiter and side-booster configuration.</div></div></div>
|
|
<div id="vulture-img-recovery" class="wiki-modal"><div class="wiki-modal-card"><a class="modal-close" href="#">x</a><img src="/vulture/vulture_booster_recovery_original.png" alt="Vulture liquid booster recovery" data-wiki-asset="/vulture/vulture_booster_recovery_original.png"><div class="thumbcaption">Reusable liquid booster recovery after RTLS return and propulsive landing.</div></div></div>
|
|
<div id="vulture-img-separation" class="wiki-modal"><div class="wiki-modal-card"><a class="modal-close" href="#">x</a><img src="/vulture/vulture_booster_separation_original.png" alt="Vulture liquid booster separation" data-wiki-asset="/vulture/vulture_booster_separation_original.png"><div class="thumbcaption">Liquid booster separation before the orbiter and external tank continue toward suborbital insertion.</div></div></div>
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