The new space transportation begins today

It is pointed out that increasing space capabilities and the inevitable industrialization of space will place an even greater traffic demand on the Space Shuttle than first projected. The Shuttle will be upgraded by evolutionary steps, and then a new system will be developed to replace it. System-level studies aimed at post-2000 vehicles have been conducted by NASA under the name Future Space Transportation System (FSTS). FSTS began in October 1981 with the objective to define a launch-vehicle concept which improves space transportation capabilities and economics. A second aim was related to the projection of technology requirements beyond previous studies, especially in the areas of structures, propellant tankage, thermal protection, aerothermodynamics and operation. It has been estimated that a fully reusable two-stage system could deliver a payload of 150,000 lb, more than twice the payload of the Space Shuttle for only a slight increase in size and weight.