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Orbit-on-demand vehicles - Mission possible, but one-day turnaround?The next generation launch-on-demand manned orbital vehicles will ideally be able to perform plane change maneuvers for rendezvous. Plane-changes of, e.g., 11 deg, will require a 3000 fps on-orbit maneuver velocity. Any plane-change capabilities beyond 800 fps rapidly increase the necessary vehicle weight. Sensitivity studies of the payload weight/vehicle weight, the presence or absence of air-breathing engines, high acceleration, etc., indicated that advances are required in the payload stowage pallet, thermal protection system, fault detection electronics, line-replaceable units, and accessibility to realize one-day turnaround. The spacecraft would also need autonomous systems checks and launch from minimum support sites reached by air ferry. A horizontal take-off, two-stage subsonic launch vehicle so far offers the lowest weight, maximum flexibility and minimum support combination of all configurations under consideration.
Document ID
19850042639
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Talay, T. A.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Morris, W. D.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Lemessurier, R. W.
(Kentron International, Inc. Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: Aerospace America
Volume: 23
ISSN: 0740-722X
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Accession Number
85A24790
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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