a history of cybernetic animals and early robots
American space tug. Study 1971. The original Boeing Space Tug design of the early 1970's was sized to be flown either in a single shuttle mission or as a Saturn V payload. Optimum mass was found to be 20.6 metric tons regardless. The Tug could be outfitted with a variety of kits to serve in …
Read More “1971 – Space Tug (Concept) – MSFC/Boeing (American)”
Re-useable Space Tug Concept Report dated 1970 Manipulator Kit only for manned space tug. The initial operational capability (IOC) date for the unmanned earth-orbit tug was Jan 1980, the manned earth-orbit tug for December 1980 (includes Manipulator Kit), and the manned lunar tug for April 1983. The Space Tug is modular in design. Space Tug …
Read More “1970 – Space Tug (Concept) – MSFC/Boeing (American)”
Some robots will be made up of computerized "brawn" working in combination with human "brains" to form an efficient whole. These one-man capsules would enable workers to survive in space while performing complex tasks using robotic remote manipulators. (The Boeing Co.) Compare with Boeing's earlier 1965 concept here. See other early Space Teleoperators here. See other …
Read More “1976 – Manned Space Pod with Manipulators (Concept) – Boeing (American)”
Found in the old Boeing Historical archive some years back was a piece of artwork dated 20 Dec 1965 illustrating a “work pod” for orbital use. Space Pod sourced from here. Compare with later 1976 Boeing Space Tug concept here. See other early Space Teleoperators here. See other early Lunar and Space Robots here.