Chrysler’s Space Shuttle: SSTO SERV and MURP

Chrysler Aerospace was already contracted for the Saturn 1 and 1B First Stage so in 1971 they proposed an alternate shuttle program, the SERV and MURP SERV: the Single-stage Earth-orbital Reusable Vehicle had a 53 metric ton payload in a 7m x 18m payload bay 12 LH2/LOX aerospike engines were arranged around the rim of the base, covered by movable metal shields Jet Engines, which were fired just prior to touchdown in order to slow the descent MURP, the Manned Upper-stage Reusable Payload The MURP was based on the HL-10 lifting body (Six Million Dollar Man test Vehicle) and a Larger Versionone larger (the D-34) could carry up to ten passengers Both proposals were ultimately not selected by NASA for further development, as the agency instead chose to focus on the Space Shuttle program and the development of the International Space Station. However, Chrysler’s proposals demonstrate the company’s innovative thinking and contribution to space exploration during that time period.