YF-19 Saber

[Stickperson]

looks cool.....looks a little bit modern actally...

[Mikey-B]

Thanks! I've tried to combine real-world events and history with what-if thinking to make something believable. So the YF-19 has roots in the real-world X-20 DynaSoar and takes elements from the space shuttle. Once I finish the texturing and weathering, I plan to make a civilian version of the texture. It's taking a lot longer than planned but my life is pretty busy. On the plus side, I have a few more 3D models to do once I get done including a Manned Orbiting Laboratory variant, a space tug based on the Apollo Service Module, a launch vehicle with elements from the Atlas V, Delta IV Heavy, and Falcon 9 Heavy, and finally, a version of the ISS.

***** Background *****
When the USAF was shut out of Space Station Freedom in 1984 and they realized they wouldn't get their own space shuttles, the Air Force needed their own military space station and transportation system in order to conduct SDI research. As a result, they revived their Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) originally canceled in 1969, and the X-20 DynaSoar, canceled in 1963, became the YF-19. Both projects were Black Budget funded to keep NAXA (National Aerospace Exploration Agency, my universe's equivalent to NASA) from blowing an O-ring and trying to squash the manned military space program.

The YF-19 first flew in 1989, a few days after MOL-2 (a.k.a. Liberty) reached orbit atop a Titan 4 rocket. After four test flights, the YF-19 became an operational fighter, the top secret F-19 Saber- pilots called it the Duck. Sabers served as combat spacecraft that countered the Soviet MiG 105 Spiral. In addition to its taxi service, the Saber could attack satellites in orbit with its GAU-12 Equalizer rotary cannon and 6 SIM-1A Slayer missiles, bomb targets from space, and dogfight with the MiG 105. They too flew into orbit via Titan 4 rockets but by 2004, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles like the Odin V Heavy and the Redstone 4 Heavy took over the task for half the cost and twice the flight rate of the Titan 4.

The military space program went public in 1997 after years of rumors and unconfirmed sightings when Congress ordered the Air Force to launch MOL-5 (a.k.a. Freedom) into orbit to form the core of the Freedom International Space Station (a.k.a. Freedom International). Launched in 1998, MOL-5, along with its Apollo Service Module-derived space tug, served in a similar capacity to the Russian Zarya and Zvezda modules and replaced them since the Russians abruptly pulled out of the ISS program in 1996 and immediately joined the Asian Space Alliance. For a time, F-19 Sabers not only guarded MOL-4 (a.k.a. Vigilance, the USAF's SDI research station), but they protected Freedom International as well.

By Congressional decree, NAXA took 4 F-19 Sabers from the USAF in 2002- nearly a third of their fleet- and disarmed them to create the Orbital Space Plane known as Ranger. Neither NAXA nor the Air Force was happy about the situation, but the civillian space agency wasted billions on failed shuttle replacements including the HL-20, X-30, X-33, and X-38. Congress simply got fed up with NAXA's bungling and saddled them with a solution.

With the Columbia disaster, Rangers 1 through 4 became the sole means of transport to Freedom International until STS-114 resumed shuttle flights. Rangers will likely remain the sole Freedom International crew transport once the shuttle retires in 2010 unless the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) challenge pays off and produces a reliable alternative.

After ten years of service, in 2008, Congress ordered the USAF to deorbit Vigilance and hand over its remaining F-19 fighters to NAXA by 2009. The USAF complied and for the second time in history, they walked away from a manned vehicle program without a fight.
*****

I've started work on the payload and docking port bay textures. I'm still working on the rough padding look that you see in the shuttle's payload bay, and just starting on the crew hatch.

[Mikey-B]

I've been a bit busy with the holidays and such but I finally got to do some more with the fighter. Slow and steady wins the race...




And closeups of the signage. You won't be able to read the signs once they're reduced, so you can pretty much have whatever you want on them...

Next to the door:


Access hatch sign:

[XRaiderV1.7]

a space shuttle inspired design, finally!!!

nice work!

[Mikey-B]

Yup, it is inspired by the Space Shuttle as well as the X-20 DynaSoar that was canceled in 1963. In my universe, the USAF revived the X-20 as the top secret F-19. I've spent hours and hours working on the model and the textures, maily because I'm learning how to do the textures. The model is intended for a game engine (not that I have time to make a game).

Updated payload bay, UV map fixed and textures fixed:

[XRaiderV1.7]

very nice work.

[Fafnir_6]

Very interesting concept. This is definitely doable with current technology so I guess it's not even science fiction really...Especially since the USAF just DENIES that it exists (it's just parked underground somewhere in Nevada) .

Cheers and thanks for sharing,

Fafnir_6

[nyrath]

Dang Mikey-B, that's sweet! I can see the Dynasoar influences.

Yes, the heat radiators are going to be a problem. Especially on a combat vessel.

You might find more food for thought with the DARPA "space cruiser" study
http://www.up-ship.com/apr/extras/scruiser1.htm
Space Cruiser

Have you seen the Deep Cold website?
Deepcold
He uses a strange modeling package called Amapi

[bagera4000]

looks like older DynaSoar worked on there new projects useing some of older research

[cpt. ramius]

made a x20 and a mig 105 spiral myself.. but the x20 is lost on another continent ^^