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Description
First launch of the Shuttle-C on STS-99-C. This evolution of the original Space Shuttle uses two Liquid Rocket Boosters instead of the old SRBs, with 5 SSME-derived engines per booster returned to Earth in recoverable pods. The Orbital Propulsion and Avionics Module (OPAM), carrying three SSMEs and the Orbital Manoeuvring System rockets, will also return to Earth for re-use after depositing its payload in orbit. For this first test flight, the OPAM John Henry is delivering an uncrewed boilerplate Kepler-L capsule into an eliptical orbit to test its heat shield. Later Shuttle-C missions will carry a crewed Kepler, LSAM lunar module, and Earth Deprature Stages as part of NASA's Minerva moon programme.

Done in Blender for the Alternate History story: Boldly Going: A History of an American Space Station by alternatehistory.com users E of Pi and TimothyJC .

This version of Shuttle-C is based on real studies, in particular those by Martin Marietta c.1982/3. Kepler is based on the British Aerospace Multi-Role Recoverable Capsule.

Description
First launch of the Shuttle-C on STS-99-C. This evolution of the original Space Shuttle uses two Liquid Rocket Boosters instead of the old SRBs, with 5 SSME-derived engines per booster returned to Earth in recoverable pods. The Orbital Propulsion and Avionics Module (OPAM), carrying three SSMEs and the Orbital Manoeuvring System rockets, will also return to Earth for re-use after depositing its payload in orbit. For this first test flight, the OPAM John Henry is delivering an uncrewed boilerplate Kepler-L capsule into an eliptical orbit to test its heat shield. Later Shuttle-C missions will carry a crewed Kepler, LSAM lunar module, and Earth Deprature Stages as part of NASA's Minerva moon programme.

Done in Blender for the Alternate History story: Boldly Going: A History of an American Space Station by alternatehistory.com users E of Pi and TimothyJC .

This version of Shuttle-C is based on real studies, in particular those by Martin Marietta c.1982/3. Kepler is based on the British Aerospace Multi-Role Recoverable Capsule.