This study examines a scenario for bolstering the operational control exercised over the U.s. satellite fleet. An Extended Space Transportation System (STS) composed of a Shuttle, Space Station, and Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) is analysed using a nonlinear optimization technique. The OTV deploys a postulated fleet of military satellites across the entire gamut of inclinations and altitudes. The use of both chemically and ion propelled OTVs are evaluated. Applying a vector optimization process to the latter simultaneously minimizes both the average OTV mission duration and annual Shuttle launches. The resulting efficient operating frontier specifies a series of optimal inclinations, altitudes and OTV sizes at which the system should be operated. Total Shuttle launch rates for the Extended STS are significantly less than for direct orbital insertion of satellites with the Shuttle. Equally important, the ion propelled OTV satellite deployment times are probably fast enough to satisfy the military requirement of rapid deployment. (Author)
Optimizing the Space Transportation System
1982
164 pages
Report
No indication
English
Manned Spacecraft , Astronautics , Space stations , Space shuttles , Military satellites , Defense systems , Space transportation , Nonlinear programming , Reconnaissance satellites , Optimization , National security , Logistics support , Deployment , Launch vehicles , Fuel consumption , Mission profiles , Methodology , Vector analysis , Theses , STS(Space Transportation System) , OTV(Orbital Transfer Vehicle) , SOC(Space Operations Center)
Reusable Space Transportation System
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