GENERAL-UTILITY SPACECRAFT AND MULTIPLE-ORBIT/PAYLOAD LAUNCH APPLICATIONS IN SPACE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
Costs for the majority of near-earth unmanned, space research and advanced development missions of the late 1960's and early 1970's can be significantly reduced by using multiple-orbit/payload launches involving general-utility spacecraft and orbital buses. This concept has evolved through the implementation of the new DOD Space Experiments and Flight Support Program (SEFSP). The modification and combination of previously developed spacecraft with other off-the-shelf space flight proven hardware to synthesize in 'tinker toy' fashion a general-utility spacecraft family for use in R+D programs of this nature is discussed. The current characteristics and growth potential of the low cost, general-utility OV spacecraft family (OV1, 2, 3, and 5) which utilize off- the-shelf hardware to a maximum extent are described. The concept of the orbital bus is developed. A typical R+D program involving four spacecraft, each from a different agency, is used to show that total overall program cost can be reduced by as much as 55% through the use of multi-agency, multiple-orbit/payload, single launch vehicle missions involving orbital buses. Hypothetical, typical multiple-orbit/payload missions on both large and small launch vehicles are described.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0825615
Entities
People
- Donald F. Adamski
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation