Tupolev OOS/Antonov AKS space launch system - photos

[Altair]

Soviet Tupolev OOS/Antonov AKS concept space launch system proposed in the 1980s. The mothership consists of two Antonov An-225 fuselages.






Previously:

Antonov An-225 Mriya - photo
Myasishchev VM-T heavy transport aircraft - photo
OK-GLI Buran test vehicle - GIF
X-1 mothership hydraulic lift - photo
McDonnell XF-85 parasite fighter - GIF and photo

[nova_robotics]

Needs more engines.

[odd one]

Looks like it would have been cheaper than the way we put the shuttle into orbit.

[Frank S]

Looks like it would have been cheaper than the way we put the shuttle into orbit.

A lot would depend on the flight ceiling of the plane. Are half of those engines designed for the higher altitudes none of them appeared to be scram or ram jet engines like the X15 had that Chuck Yeager managed to take almost to the fringe of space.
That huge plane obviously could never achieve anywhere near enough speed for what little amount of fuel the shuttle could carry to enable it to reach escape velocity. or to achieve LEO.

[Duke_of_URL]

I doubt they could carry enough fuel in those wings to feed the engines for any extended duration. The Soviets always had a "bigger hammer" design philosophy. So sad the Antonov An-225 Mriya was damaged beyond repair.

[Toolmaker51]

Bigger hammer is right, a whole bag of hammers.
My concern was how much ceiling they'd require to accommodate the shuttle at release, wouldn't it eat a 1000' feet just to get lit and clear mothership and not fry it? Then, what is minimum number of engines (and which ones) to maintain flight in case of catastrophic failure and still land safely?
Forget about the nest of throttle, gauges and fuel transfer controls.
Вот этот?
нет.
эти?
нет!
Я сдаюсь.
что тогда!!!

[BuffaloJohn]

Needs more engines.

My first thought!