Commercial Space Launch System Requirements
Abstract
This report presents recommended requirements of the commercial spacecraft and space launch industries for the next generation of space launch systems. It was prepared by the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC), which advises the Secretary of Transportation on commercial space industry issues. This report supersedes the "Commercial Space Launch System Requirements", dated 5 April 1993 (reference 1). The COMSTAC has consistently urged that commercial requirements for launch services be included in the design basis of the next launch system developed by the U.S. Government for access to space for its security and civil science payloads. The COMSTAC believes that developing the next generation launch systems based on requirements which include those of the commercial satellite industry ensures a substantial commercial user base that would result in the cost of government launch services being substantially less than if the launch systems were optimized for Government payloads only. The COMSTAC also believes that it is in the best interest of the spacecraft manufacturers to have a healthy, competitive U.S. launch vehicle fleet to draw upon. This report is intended to be used as a source of the commercial space launch industry requirements for future launch systems, including the proposed Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) and the proposed Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 25, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA338612
Entities
People
- Paul N. Fuller
Organizations
- United States Department of Transportation