Current (FY 73) Issues Regarding Reusability of Spacecraft and Upper Stages for Military Missions.
Abstract
The study examined the possible contributions to military space missions of the new capabilities introduced by the space Shuttle: (1) payload recovery, (2) manned tending, and (3) increased payload weight and volume at lower cost. Besides the conventional expendable mode of satellite operations, new modes of retrieval for ground refurbishment and reuse, on-orbit servicing, and on-board (sortie-mode) payloads become possible. The issue of the degree of reusability of an upper stage (Tug) to be developed for use with the Shuttle for high-altitude missions was also examined by the study. Including both transportation and payload cost savings, the results of the analysis could not support, on an economic basis, military use of a reusable Tug in preference to a minimum modification of an existing expendable stage in conjunction with extended-lifetime expendable spacecraft. (Modified author abstract)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- AD0781468
Entities
People
- R. G. Finke
Organizations
- Institute for Defense Analyses