Philip Bono’s Reusable Single Stage to Orbit Rocket (SSTO)

Douglas Aircraft’s SASSTO, short for “Saturn Application Single Stage to Orbit“, was a single stage to orbit (SSTO) reusable launch system designed by Philip Bono’s team in 1967. SASSTO was a study in minimalist designs, a launcher with the specific intent of repeatedly placing a Gemini capsule in orbit for the lowest possible cost. The SASSTO booster was based on the layout of the S-IVB upper stage from the Saturn family, modified with a plug nozzle.