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Science and Applications Manned Space Platform

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SAMSP
This illustration from 1981 depicts the assembly of a large telecommunications antenna (right) at the Science & Applications Manned Space Platform.
Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos

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Status: Study 1980.

MSFC envisioned a series of cheap 'platforms' costing only $500 million that could be outfitted for different missions. One mission would be to service spacecraft such as the Hubble Space Telescope. The platform would provide power, communications, thermal control and other services for standard Shuttle payload experiments -- it essentially served as a surrogate Shuttle payload bay. SAMSP could gradually evolve into a manned space station by adding pressurized crew modules derived from Spacelab. Initially, SAMSP would have a crew of three to four astronauts.

NASA/Marshall issued a number of Science and Applications Manned Space Platform contracts to McDonnell-Douglas and TRW in 1980. A 1981 unmanned TRW platform design carried three Spacelab unpressurised experiment pallets, including a space telescope. Two large solar panel 'wings' generated power while the radiator dumped excess heat produced by the experiments. The unmanned TRW platform could be customized for different missions. The TRW platform could be transformed into a human-tended microgravity laboratory by adding Spacelab pressurized modules. These would contain sensitive experiments and be replaced at regular intervals by visiting Space Shuttles.

Article by Marcus Lindroos

Photo Gallery

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Space Platform - TRW Science and Applications Manned Space Platform Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos

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SAMSP SAMSP could gradually evolve into a manned space station by adding pressurized crew modules derived from Spacelab. McDonnell-Douglas illustration from 1981. Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos

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Space Platform-1981 Early 1980s Space Station Study (Rockwell). Two space station proposals by Rockwell International. The initial design would consist of only a few modules. Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos

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SAMSP TRW SAMSP. The TRW platform could be transformed into a human tended microgravity laboratory by adding Spacelab pressurized modules. These contain sensitive experiments which are replaced on regular intervals by visiting Space Shuttles (bottom). Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos

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SAMSP TRW SAMSP. NASA/Marshall issued a number of Science & Applications Manned Space Platform contracts to McDonnell-Douglas and TRW in 1980. This TRW illustration from 1981 depicts a unmanned platform being serviced by a Space Shuttle. Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos

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SAMSP / HST SAMSP and Hubble Space Telescope. This illustration shows three SAMSPs in different Earth orbits. One mission would be to service spacecraft such as the Hubble Space Telescope (bottom) Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos

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SAMSP TRW SAMSP. This unmanned TRW platform from 1981 carries three Spacelab unpressurised experiment pallets, including a space telescope. Two large solar panel "wings" generate power while the radiator on top radiates away excess heat produced by the experiments. Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos

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SAMSP Space Platform - TRW. The unmanned TRW platform could be customized for different missions. Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos

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SAMSP 1981 SAMSP. This McDonnell-Douglas illustration from 1980 depicts the basic unmanned platform equipped with a small Spacelab telescope pallet. The platform would provide power, communications, thermal control and other services for standard Shuttle payload experiments -- it essentially served as a surrogate Shuttle payload bay. Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos

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SAMSP 1982 SAMSP. This TRW illustration from 1982 depicts two astronauts doing repairs outside the Science & Applications Manned Space Platform. Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos

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