Apollo LASS S-IVB
Spacecraft · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
American lunar logistics spacecraft. Study 1966. The Douglas Company (DAC) proposed the "Lunar Application of a Spent S-IVB Stage (LASS)". The LASS concept required a landing gear on a S-IVB Stage.
The mission was an unmanned, direct-flight, using an existing lunar beacon to obtain a precise landing location. The LASS required either a highly throttleable J-2 type engine (J-2X) or a moderately throttleable J-2S with RL-10 engines added to provide proper landing control.
DAC studied several configurations and recommended a vertical lander with a payload package on top. Landed payloads in the order of 11,000 kg were claimed by DAC with the 1965 Saturn V capability. This payload was based on a more optimistic delta-V budget than used in other studies. However, the landed payload would still be substantial (7200 - 8600 kg) using the more conservative values. The LASS was related to contemporary Douglas SASSTO studies on use of a modified S-IVB as a reusable, recoverable upper stage or as a single-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle.