Trimotors, pt 13 - Titan-3C Gemini Test.jpg (1/1)

[Mitchell Holman[_3_]]

[Byker]

I remember this one. A Titan oxidizer tank, mounted between the transtage
and the Gemini spacecraft, represented the aerodynamic characteristics of
the proposed Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL), a Skylab-type space station
for the U.S. Military. Unfortunately the MOL's projected cost rose from $1.5
billion to $3 billion while the Vietnam War took larger portions of the
defense budget and the project was scrapped in 1969.

[Mitchell Holman[_3_]]

"Byker" > wrote in
:

> I remember this one. A Titan oxidizer tank, mounted between the
> transtage and the Gemini spacecraft, represented the aerodynamic
> characteristics of the proposed Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL), a
> Skylab-type space station for the U.S. Military. Unfortunately the
> MOL's projected cost rose from $1.5 billion to $3 billion while the
> Vietnam War took larger portions of the defense budget and the project
> was scrapped in 1969.


I would imagine NASA wanted to stay focused
on the lunar mission and not get diverted with
military projects.