Essex-class satellite launching ship
17 Jul 2007
Concept artwork, depicting an Essex or Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier converted for launching space satellites into orbits not readily accessible from launch sites in the United States. The rocket shown is an “Atlas” type. Image was received by the Naval Photographic Center on 12 December 1961.
Never built.
July 17th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
I can’t imagine the amount of fireproofing that would be required for the ship to survive a launch.
July 17th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
It’s been done. The last launch wasn’t successful, but the platform was ok.
July 17th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Boeing does something similar with their sea launch program. http://www.boeing.com/special/sea-launch/
July 17th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
sorry dfens, honestly I did not mean to steal your link. You are too fancy for me with your html tags. I did not see your link until after I posted.
July 17th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
I’m just leveraging what little I remember of HTML.