Abstract
This paper explores mission scenarios using existing evolved expendable launch vehicles for delivering, on an interim basis, the crew exploration vehicle Orion to the International Space Station. The use of existing commercial launchers is proposed to narrow the International Space Station service gap from the time the space shuttle is deserviced until the new Ares I launch vehicle is crew rated and operational. Here, three launch options are evaluated:1)theAtlasVheavy-liftvehicle,2)theDeltaIVheavy-lift vehicle,and3)theDeltaIVwiththreecommoncore boosters (as a first stage, with the Orion acting as the second stage). Configurations 1 and 3 require significant impulse from the Orion’s service-module engine to achieve the final orbit. Configuration 2 launches the Orion as a passivepayload,withoutrelianceonanyimpulse fromtheservicemodule.Allthreeconfigurations reservesufficient service-module impulse for deorbit and reentry. Detailed simulation results, concepts of operation, and mission timelines are presented for each configuration. Mission feasibility is demonstrated for all three configurations. The final configuration has the advantage of eliminating failure paths and requiring human rating only for the commoncore booster on the Delta IV system. Finally, reliability- and development-cost assessments are presented and compared with the Ares I.
Published Version
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