Model, Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLLV), 1:144

In 2004 President George W. Bush announced a new "vision for space exploration." NASA responded with a program called Constellation. The plan included a new heavy-lift launch vehicle capable of sending large payloads (but not people) to the Moon. This model represents ATK Thiokol's concept for a heavy-lift launch vehicle based largely on Space Shuttle technology. The first stage is a Shuttle external tank fueling five Space Shuttle main engines; it is augmented by two enlarged solid rocket boosters. The second stage would use Space Shuttle main engines or other rocket engines. This vehicle was later renamed the Cargo Launch Vehicle. ATK presented this early concept model to the Museum when the vehicle design became more refined.