I've seen the Orion Space Battleship pop up from time to time in space related alternate history, and I decided to do some additional research into it because I'm interested in using it in a timeline I'm working on. But I've run into a bit of a problem; I can't find any credible sources that this was ever a real proposal. A lot of places online talk about how it was supposed to have 5'' naval guns and 24 megaton nuclear missiles, and that the program was canceled by Kennedy because it scared him. But none of these places actually cite any sources, and the credible sources I do have about Project Orion do not mention the battleship proposal, not even in passing. Am I missing something? Where did the story about it scaring Kennedy come from? Or its armaments for that matter. For as popular is it seems to be in a lot of space related alternate history, I'm not sure I'm convinced that it was ever a real proposal.
Did the Project Orion "Battleship" Proposal Actually Exist?
- Thread starter RandomUser5752
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The history of the SAC Orion project: https://www.thespacereview.com/article/2714/1
As usual for this period, Robert McNamara is the reason why we can't have nice things.
The actual configuration of the ship and the modern drawings, renders, and plastic models are based primarily on original research by Scott Lowther: https://www.up-ship.com/eAPR/ev2n2.htm
This is the link for the Fantastic Plastic model: https://fantastic-plastic.com/ProjectOrionBattleshipPage.htm
My understanding is that Lowther's research is the source of the story about JFK and the Corvette-sized model.
I originally learned about the Orion Battleship from Winchell Chung's Atomic Rockets site: https://projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/realdesigns2.php#id--Project_Orion--Orion_Battleship
As usual for this period, Robert McNamara is the reason why we can't have nice things.
The actual configuration of the ship and the modern drawings, renders, and plastic models are based primarily on original research by Scott Lowther: https://www.up-ship.com/eAPR/ev2n2.htm
This is the link for the Fantastic Plastic model: https://fantastic-plastic.com/ProjectOrionBattleshipPage.htm
My understanding is that Lowther's research is the source of the story about JFK and the Corvette-sized model.
I originally learned about the Orion Battleship from Winchell Chung's Atomic Rockets site: https://projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/realdesigns2.php#id--Project_Orion--Orion_Battleship
Thanks, that actually helps quite a bit. This is the first time I've heard of Scott Lowther, it looks like his work has a lot of the information I was after.
Ahh but something to keep in mind is that there was kind of a 'window' where a proper Orion pitch MIGHT have worked. McNamara was adamant about the US possibly going to the Moon (the 1962 "Lunar" decision by Kennedy) was not going to be enough and that the Soviets could easily match the US in doing so. He argued heavily that the "goal" should be planetary rather than lunar and as the first linked article points out the Air Force was willing to put a LOT of money and resources into building Orion so
Randy
If it involves large numbers of atomic bombs and LeMay is excited about it, that is a good reason not to fund it.