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Affordable In-Space TransportationCurrent and proposed launch systems will provide access to low-Earth orbit (LEO), and destinations beyond LEO, but the cost of delivering payloads will preclude the use of these services by many users. To develop and encourage revolutionary commercial utilization of geosynchronous orbit (GEO) and to provide an affordable means to continue NASA space science and exploration missions, the transportation costs to in-space destinations must be reduced. The principal objective of this study was to conceptually define three to four promising approaches to in-space transportation for delivery of satellites and other payloads, 3,000- to 10,000-lb class, to GEO destinations. This study established a methodology for evaluating in-space transportation systems based on life-cycle cost. The reusable concepts seemed to fare better in the evaluation than expendable, since a major driver in the life-cycle cost was the stage production cost.
Document ID
19960054362
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Curtis, L. A. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
VanDyke, M. K. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Lajoie, R. M. (Boeing Aerospace Co. Huntsville, AL United States)
Woodcock, G. R. (Boeing Aerospace Co. Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1996
Subject Category
Space Transportation
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.15:108521
NASA-TM-108521
Report Number: NAS 1.15:108521
Report Number: NASA-TM-108521
Accession Number
96N36531
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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