Sustainable Heavy Lift Vehicle Development Options
- Paper number
IAC-11,D2,8,4,x11706
- Author
Mr. Martin McLaughlin, Northrop Grumman Corporation, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Berry Jim, Northrop Grumman Corporation, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Ken Rourke, Northrop Grumman Corporation, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Nathan Oldfield, Northrop Grumman Corporation, United States
- Year
2011
- Abstract
The development of a sustainable heavy lift vehicle is the most critical project for space exploration beyond Earth Orbit. Current launch vehicles do not have sufficient payload mass and volume to Earth escape necessary for acceptable mission reliability. Many other critical developments are required including in-space propulsion, radiation protection and others, but sustainable heavy lift capability is the necessary foundation. Sustainable heavy lift development is especially difficult due to funding limitations in a struggling world economy, low mission rates, multiple uncertain missions and legacy system closeout. Difficult as this development is, it cannot consume all available resources stifling other critical developments and near term exploration missions. We believe sustainable heavy lift requires; incremental development, low fixed costs and flexibility for a wide variety of missions. Funding profiles are flat with very limited ability to absorb non-recurring spikes and stretched out development adds costs and inhibits progress. Incremental development can fit under funding profiles and enables near term exploration with a growth path. Low mission rate, flexible missions and long system life make it difficult to offset development investments and support production and operations infrastructure. This drives a compelling need for low fixed costs that must be a major consideration for the vehicle configuration and during all phases of development. The exploration architecture and launch needs will continue to evolve for decades. The heavy lift system needs to be flexible for currently unknown exploration missions and be available for science, space servicing and other user missions. Sustainable heavy lift vehicle concepts covering the available design space are presented along with incremental growth development roadmaps.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-11,D2,8,4,x11706.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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