Bell Project 7969

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Bell Project 7969

Part of Man-In-Space-Soonest

Project 7969 Bell
Credit: © Mark Wade

American manned spacecraft. Study 1958. Bell's preferred concept for the Air Force initial manned space project was the boost-glide vehicle they had been developing for the Dynasoar program.

Status: Study 1958. Gross mass: 8,200 kg (18,000 lb).

When pressed they considered briefly a minimum vehicle, spherical in shape, weighing about 1,400 kg. But their baseline was the Dynasoar approach - 'anything else would be a stunt'. It was expected that a first manned orbital flight of the boost-glide vehicle could be achieved five years after a go-ahead at a cost of $ 889 million.

Family: Manned spacecraft. Country: USA. Launch Vehicles: Titan. Agency: USAF, Bell. Bibliography: 26, 483, 59.

Photo Gallery

Project 7969 Designs
Project 7969 designs using extensive aerodynamic manoeuvring. From left: North American X-15B; Bell Dynasoar; Northrop Dynasoar; Republic Demi body; Avco manoeuvrable drag cone.
Credit: © Mark Wade

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