An Analysis of the Space Transportation System Launch Rate Capability Utilizing Q-GERT Simulation Techniques.
Abstract
The Space Transportation System (STS) is being developed by NASA for NASA, DoD, and commercial use. National Space Policy dictates that the STS become NASA's and DoD's primary means for launching payloads into orbit. Unfortunately, the current flight manifest saturates STS launch rate capability. Therefore, additional operational funding will be required to increase the rate of launch. This funding must be applied to those portions of the system which contribute greatest to increasing the system launch rate. This study presents two methods for determining the system launch rate, identifying the bottlenecks, and developing a launch enhancement plan. The analytic method is fairly easily and quickly accomplished, using the data provided in the NASA Shuttle Turn-around Analysis Report, while the Q-GERT simulation method gives more accurate estimates of the launch rate capability. Plans are presented to show the facility configurations and flight hardware levels required to achieve various launch rate capabilities at Kennedy Space Center. The capacity of VAFB was determined, but no launch enhancement plan was developed since an increase in the launch rate would require the obvious duplication of most of the facilities. The method presented can be used on data provided in future STARs. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA124706
Entities
People
- Brian Grogan Millburn
- John Gregory Andrusyszyn
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology