MUSTARD

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For other uses, see Mustard.

The Multi-Unit Space Transport And Recovery Device or MUSTARD was a concept explored by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) around 1964-1965 for launching payloads weighing as much as 5,000 lb. into orbit. MUSTARD was a winged three-stage reusable vehicle which used the triamese concept.

The three components of the design were three largely identical lifting bodies (each similar to the Northrop HL-10), stacked back-to-belly. The units would be stacked for launch, and two of them would act as boosters to launch the third into Earth orbit. The booster units would feed any excess fuel to the unit which was to be the spacecraft. At 150,00 to 200,00 ft. (45,750 to 60,960 m) the booster units would separate and land like aircraft. The spacecraft would place its payload into orbit and then return in a like manner.