As a result of technological progress, the United States is now on the verge of developing cost-effective reusable launch vehicles (RLV) for space. This study reviews the strategic implications of the emerging vision within the U.S. Department of Defense for using these vehicles. Although the U.S. Air Force is making the transition to a force that relies increasingly on space, the best path does not necessarily involve replicating the traditional air missions in space. This study of potential missions for RLVs concludes that, while these vehicles are capable of numerous missions (e.g., reconnaissance, global strike, cargo and personnel transport), the most important mission for the immediate future for both the U.S. military and commercial firms is in the area of traditional spacelift. The two broad conclusions that emerge from this study are as follows: (1) the U.S. military should move away from the spacelift business by obtaining spacelift through commercially procured launch services, and (2) the U.S. military should not develop militarized RLVs that are designed to perform traditional air operations in space.
Reusable Launch Vehicles: Rethinking Access to Space (cover title: Reusable Launch Vehicles and Space Operations)
2000
85 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Business & Economics , Military Sciences , Astronautics , Unmanned Spacecraft , Department of defense , Corporations , Cost effectiveness , Reusable equipment , Contracted services , Launch vehicles , Space missions , Air force , Space systems , Cost reduction , Technology forecasting , History , Military applications , Access , Space transportation , Aerospace industry , Reconnaissance , Spacelift , Commercial launch services , Commercial applications , Access to space , Global strike , Space control , Global transport , Satellite servicing , Cargo transport , Personnel transport
Reusable Launch Vehicles and Space Operations
NTIS | 2000
|Reusable Space Launch Vehicles
AIAA | 1999
|Elsevier | 1985
|Engineering Index Backfile | 1964
|Reusable Launch Vehicles Outlook - Launch Vehicles Table
Online Contents | 2009