![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlTMraOSY1qc41111We30cf8UJZMS-QGFlzIpz6PvyqF4SDlYBvRdm32xNqbzs7SW753VDcJUuZAHyvgHoCsayqpozV7D0qAwDqavF8b55jcgOHOEgr9-N0bFxFxoaLTkEHqjUqHVLw/s400/1962driftmarlo1.gif)
With a classic cover image of rescuing a space chimp from a capsule Drift Marlo #2 was a treasure worth seeking out. However what I want to point out is the USAF Space Shuttle inside.
Drift Marlo only had two issues published. This is the Oct-Dec issue. With all the discussion on other groups about the delta wing, I thought this was interesting to see. Fictional stories reflect the times so this one has some nice images of what the future was supposed to look like.
This illustration of a "space expo" is very interesting. At the time you could go to various trade shows and exhibitions where the aerospace contractors would have displays of their coming products.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXTHpjwsLmQpi5lEgQoa-s5kFCGmrdfm-OytoIaDKGvkNxaTKdhjXr0KJMlSLIoUI-3sAJ61XLG8fMsVT-M18acNWbDSrQ90qTBltj1rlC-p7FAj14pLTopPlmvcR_bH8vy7Ffhlx2g/s400/1962driftmarlo2.gif)
These pictures of how a delta wing would launch are also a nice illustration of space art hiding in "children's" books. The sequence looks so similar to the real launches going on that the story seemed perfectly reasonable as a projection of the near-future.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIzWzblTa9xHMSJLCmHh-1BMfxo03Ys9QkThgc0LDF5XUP10vbrGjXsi81prfeUEdewZRw1uWPmZaxpPoBOgEc18IdfXIvFitemzfEgnZLrLWAmqY7-g3puPpdhqwDmROy3lVJ0A_vA/s400/1962driftmarlo3.gif)
Note also how the expectation was that there would be a "space force" under the U.S. Air Force (not NASA) to patrol and solve problems in near-Earth orbit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEpTbn6tugd5JmBpX6XJaEc8-OA7dAwOiADcTgz5uAr819PKC5wYy9HDTmn3zDl19mFfu4Y4ic6l4SIxzv-GXdI8Ghwic57xO9WQG8MgbXucOx3MUaV9-OeUpFUEVc9sV3borG2k4fQ/s400/1962driftmarlo4.gif)
The idea of a USAF Space Force continued to be contemplated well into the late 1970s as the shuttle was being developed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CMPaM9CRjtwTcA_MAUG9YGgi8id8TDAsOBO7DaYkii78JBBdJS1zeYP-_-I_gytkVWS9HnOUFDnqNOQtUiUpPN8DqXuZ56Sv5oofni-vNL2wJxrXv5aK1BzHJ5tZpq6aqxArPLkifg/s400/bonestellshuttle.jpg)
That illustrated delta-winged craft looks to me like a Dyna-Soar with a fancy white & blue paint job, atop a Titan III with oddly truncated boosters. Standard equipment for space gumshoes, perhaps.
ReplyDelete-- Michael S.
Dyna-Soar was my first thought too.
ReplyDelete