Worlds Ugliest Rocket: The Boeing's SRB-X

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SRB-X
SHUTTLE DERIVED VEHICLE ANALYSIS
SOLID BOOSTER UNMANNED LAUNCH VEHICLE
CONCEPT DEFINITION STUDY

Volume II
TECHNICAL REPORT
DISO-27351-2
February 1983
Contract NASS-34722
Submitted to
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
George. C. Marshall Space Flight Center
by
Boeing Aerospace Company
Seattle, Washington 98124

The SRB-X study was initiated by NASA in response to preliminary investigations
that suggested future launch requirements could best be satisfied by a mixed fleet of
manned and unmanned launch vehicles. Manned requirements are expected to be met by
the space shuttle, at least to the turn of the century, but requirements for the unmanned
vehicle are not specific at this time. The following, however, represent potential uses or
benefits that indicate, when viewed collectively, that an unmanned vehicle could be a
valuable addition to the space transportation system (STS). Such a vehicle could
a. Provide shuttle contingency or backup in the event of an out-of-service orbiter, a
major accident, or failure to achieve acceptable turnaround time.
b. Deliver payloads that exceed the size and mass constraints imposed by the
shuttle.
C. Free the shuttle for missions unique to its capabilities, thus extending the life of
the orbiter fleet.
d. Supplement the shuttle flight rate in the event launch needs increase appreciably.
e. Deliver cargo considered hazardous or presenting additional risk to the shuttle.

The SRB-X is one of several shuttle-derived vehicle (SDV) concepts being considered for the unmanned launch vehicle role. The distinguishing feature of the concept is
that, to the greatest extent possible, primary propulsion would use the space shuttle’s
solid rocket motors (SRM), boosters, or derivatives rather than the LO2/LH2 main propulsion system.

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25 thoughts on “Worlds Ugliest Rocket: The Boeing's SRB-X”

  10. The Boeing SRB-X was a proposed rocket for the USAF. the air force wanted a rocket capable of putting 10,000 pounds in to GEO and they wanted it cheap. Boeing proposed using a 3 stage rocket. The first stage would be 2 SRB from the space shuttle. The second stage would be a single central SRB from the shuttle with outer 2 being detached when empty. The last stage would be a centaur upper stage placed inside a faring. The rocket could also launch a much heavier payload to LEO by firing all 3 SRB at once a working as a 2 stage rocket. As part of the keeping it cheap plan not only would the SRB-X use as many preexisting parts as possible it would use space shuttle hardware. This would work great for the USAF because Vandenberg Air base was built as a second shuttle launch site (it was never used for shuttle launches). The spacing of the SRBs is done so that they'll be the same distance apart on SRB-X as they were on the space shuttle. SRB-X remain a concept with other proposals being ready sooner.

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  17. This rocket really highlights how intriguing the systems are for coordinating the multi cores, and the stresses on the bracing between them in real flying hardware. So cool what type of engineering, tolerances, and precision goes into it.

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