Commercial Launch Services: an Enabler for Launch Vehicle Evolution and Cost Reduction

Abstract

This paper proposes that NASA commercially purchase all future launch services, including ISS service and the launch requirements for all phases of lunar exploration and beyond. This commercial purchase of launch services will provide the foundation of a robust commercial launch industry and dramatically lower cost. This paper also shows how NASA’s currently planned exploration architecture readily accommodates and even benefits from commercial launch services. NASA’s use of commercial launch services is consistent with President Bush’s mandate for the Vision for Space Exploration: “Promote international and commercial participation in exploration to further U.S. scientific, security and economic interests.” This is also consistent with Griffin’s public remarks: “We believe that when we engage the engine of competition, these services will be provided in a more cost-effective fashion than when the government has to do it.”