Study results pertaining to selection and evaluation of a multipurpose satellite.

Abstract

This paper presents the results of one of a series of studies being conducted by the Air Force to determine means of reducing costs in space operations. The advantages of multiple-payload launches and multipurpose spacecraft are quantitatively determined by making economic comparisons for several specific missions. A computerized cost-effectiveness model is used to compute the system performance and resulting system costs. Results for multiple-pay load launches of single-purpose spacecraft for each of the 5 missions considered clearly indicate that multiple-pay load launchings pay off. A multipurpose spacecraft configuration is systematically selected from over 80 possible candidates. The resulting spacecraft design is described, together with the logic behind the selection. The impact of reliability on the spacecraft design is shown. The resupply policy selected is discussed. The selected multipurpose spacecraft is compared with the single-purpose spacecraft for the same missions. The selected multipurpose configuration results in a 24% cost savings.