Reusable orbital transfer vehicle spacelift concepts study results
- Office of Aerospace Studies 3550 Aberdeen Ave. S.E. Kirtland AFB New Mexico87117 (United States)
This paper reports on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of expendable and reusable orbital transfer vehicle concepts utilizing innovative low thrust, high specific impulse electric and thermal propulsion technologies. Comparisons are made to launch systems using current chemical upper stages. These innovative technologies often produce significant savings over chemical upper-stages when used with the current fleet of expendable launch vehicles, and evolved expendable launch vehicles. Savings are driven by the ability of the innovative technologies to lower combined payload and upper stage mass, allowing payloads to be launched on smaller, less expensive launch vehicles. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 627627
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970115--
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 387; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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