In article ,
jeff findley wrote:
Don't forget Skylab (3 CSM's) and ASTP (one CSM and one unflown
backup). It really was a general purpose vehicle in terms of where it
could go, but was single purpose in terms of what it could do (it was
a crew transport containing life support...)

The Russian TKS spacecraft, built for the Almaz military space stations
but (in the end) never flown manned, was really a much better design for
any mission that wasn't as propulsion-intensive as the lunar missions. It
had a *pressurized* service module, reached via a heatshield hatch, with a
space-station docking port on the rear (and small maneuvering engines
flanking it). Cargo capacity *down* was small, but that has never been
very important.

The original Apollo concepts envisioned a variety of different modules aft
of the CM, although it was never entirely clear on how you would reach
them (if they needed reaching).
--
MOST launched 30 June; science observations running | Henry Spencer
since Oct; first surprises seen; papers pending. |