NASA launch vehicles: The next 20 years

Abstract

Low cost, reliable access to low Earth orbit and the pursuit of our nation's goal to further explore the moon and Mars are the foci for NASA advanced transportation development programs. The space infrastructure projected to evolve over the next two decades will be deployed and maintained by the Shuttle and its derivatives, by commercial expendables, and by new vehicles such as the Advanced Launch System. One Shuttle derivative currently being studied is the Shuttle-C, an unmanned cargo version in which the Orbiter is replaced by a cargo element. At first, manned access to the Space Station and other low Earth orbiting platforms and spacecraft will be via the Shuttle as now configured. Later, improvements aimed at increased reliability and operational cost reduction will be implemented. Major “block” changes such as the introduction of reusable liquid rocket boosters may further reduce the costs. When NASA transportation needs for the operational Space Station and for lunar and Mars exploration are better defined, Shuttle II and/or the Advanced Launch System and other vehicles now only being conceptualized will be needed. The Advanced Development Program of the Office of Space Flight has structured its requirements analyses, concept definition studies and advanced technology development projects to satisfy the evolutionary launch vehicle needs of NASA and to transition technological improvements to the military and commercial segments of the aerospace industry as well.