This report reviews the major events relating to U.S. commercial space transportation in the past year and showcases current and planned U.S. commercial and commercially-oriented activities. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)/Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (AST) first published the report in 1998 with an exclusive focus on reusable launch vehicles (RLV). The current edition addresses not only RLVs but also expendable launch vehicles (ELV), propulsion technologies, and spaceports to provide a more complete picture of the U.S. commercial space transportation industry. This report focuses on commercial and commercially oriented activities; it includes industry-led and -funded projects, private-public cooperative projects, as well as government-led and -funded projects that will impact and support the development of commercial activities. With the exception of a few X PRIZE vehicle concepts, all activities and developments described in this report are being led by U.S. entities. payloads on larger boosters. These companies are exploring various technologies, including new propellants and pressure-fed engines, which have the potential to reduce the cost of their vehicles.
U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments and Concepts: Vehicles, Technologies, and Spaceports, 2002
2002
54 pages
Report
No indication
English