The view from up here

...a 100,000 n.m. circular orbit, where it sits until the Soviets get uppity. At which point it either launches weapons from that distance and serves as an unreachable launch platform, or boosts itself to hyperbolic flyby past the Russkies...

Here's a few Orbiter simulated views from about 185,000 km up.

Ship Designs Compared

Interesting chart at this site.

Let's add a few of Selden's drawings of large American designs.



Upper right, near the tip of the Star Destroyer. The largest Orion is the 1 mile diameter interstellar version. Here's an flyable Orbiter model of two of the ships.

New: Sakharov's PK-5000; the other side of the first space race.