Book from 1959 on the future of spaceflight

[NovaSilisko]

Found this a while ago, it just occurred to me I should post pictures of it here:

 

[sorindafabico]

Found this a while ago, it just occurred to me I should post pictures of it here:

DeltaGlider launcher!

 

[Keatah]

In the second picture, I built a mock-up of that and would watch space videos on super-8 or tv. Closest thing to a flight simulator ever! ..to a 5 year old.

 

[MattBaker]

The second picture reminds me of the Dream Chaser, also an Atlas V looks different to that, well, kinda looks like a N-1 actually.
Also funny how the launch pad is shown, simply for access to the spacecraft, if it would be that easy...

 

[Urwumpe]

Also funny how the launch pad is shown, simply for access to the spacecraft, if it would be that easy...

It is that easy for many modern launchers, for example the Zenit family, but the Atlas V does also only have umbilicals for wind protection and clean air supply above the base of the rocket.

It is today a common design goal to have the umbilicals at the base of the rocket and reduce the dependency on large expensive umbilical towers.