In recent years the U.S. Air Force and NASA have conducted design studies of 3 expendable launch vehicle configurations that could serve as a backup to the space shuttle--the Titan 34D7/Centar, the Atlas II/Centaur, and the shuttle-derived SRB-X--as well as studies of advanced shuttle-derived launch vehicles with much larger payload capabilities than the shuttle. The 3 candidate 'complementary' launch vehicles are judged to be roughly equivalent in cost, development time, reliability, and payload-to-orbit performance. None requires new technology nor has any significant growth potential. While the SRB-X has the advantage of common production with the shuttle, the Titan 34D7 and Atlas II have the important advantage in assuring timely access to space of launch independent of the complex shuttle environment. Advanced shuttle-derived vehicles are considered viable candidates to meet future heavy lift launch requirements; however, they do not appear likely to result in significant reduction in cost-per-pound to orbit. Efforts are required to substantially reduce this cost by development and application of advanced high energy propulsion systems, simplified design, and improved operational procedures.
Assessment of Candidate Expendable Launch Vehicles for Large Payloads
1984
48 pages
Report
No indication
English
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