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Ithacus VTVL SSTO Troop Carrier (1966) |
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Coming in September 2012 |
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Retail Price: TBD |
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For More Information Contact: FantasticPlast@aol.com |
| ABOUT THE DESIGN: | ABOUT THE MODEL: | |
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The ITHACUS was Douglas
Aircraft's proposed Vertical Take-Off/Vertical Landing (VTVL)
Single-Stage-to-Orbit (SSTO) military troop transport. Based on the
earlier ROMBUS plug-nozzle concept by Phillip Bono, the craft's mission
was to transport a battalion-sized contingent of U.S. Marines (1,200
troops) anywhere in the world within 90 minutes. The
6,400-metric-ton vehicle, sometimes known as the "ITHACUS SR.," would be
launched via eight hydrogen drop tanks that helped power a ring of inboard
rocket engines, plus two side-mounted solid rocket boosters. The ITHACUS''
underside would serve as a heat-shield for re-entry; it would land
vertically at its target atop four extendable legs. A smaller 260-troop version, the "ITHACUS, JR.,," was also proposed for launching off Enterprise-class aircraft carriers. MORE HISTORICAL TRIVIA: Douglas' civilian version of this craft, the "ICARUS," was used for the exterior spacecraft shots in the "Mission to Mars" simulation ride at Disneyland (1975-1992) and Walt Disney World (1975-1993). It was shown on the launch pad on the video display screens during the audio-animatronic "Mission Control" pre-show.. |
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Contractor Model |
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ITHACUS Model on Launch Stand (CAD) |
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