NASA has confirmed that Space Shuttle-derived launch vehicles form the core of the agency’s long-awaited exploration systems architecture study, details of which are expected to be announced this month.
The plans were revealed in statements prepared for NASA administrator Mike Griffin, who addressed the AIAA Space 2005 conference in Long Beach, California. However, Griffin did not read out the details in his speech but said instead: “We’ll need two major vehicles in the foreseeable future, and we have existing hardware in the Shuttle which I favour using instead of throwing it away.”
Griffin says full details of the study, which will also indicate how the new vehicles will be acquired and developed, are being circulated around government agencies and other groups for approval before being revealed to US Congress in September. “We are currently working to make sure we have ‘buy-in’. We are late and I know that.”
Requirements for the national launch system, outlined in an agreement formalised with US Air Force undersecretary Ron Sega on 5 August, “stipulates that separating human-related space exploration from unmanned payload launch will best achieve reliable and affordable access to space”.
Key elements include earlier-than-expected development of a Shuttle solid rocket booster (SRB)-derived crew launch vehicle with a new upper stage by the 2011-12 timeframe, rather than 2014 as previously planned.
This would close the gap between the planned 2010 retirement of the Shuttle and the availability of the new vehicle to just one year.
Another key finding, revealed by Flight International (23-29 August), is the development of a massive new 125t-payload vehicle for Mars and Moon missions. This vehicle, dubbed Longfellow, would be taller than the 111m (363ft) Saturn V, and use a derivative, stretched Shuttle external tank and SRBs.
The launch system plan also calls for combined use of Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles for missions in the 5-20t class, including cargo missions to the International Space Station.
GUY NORRIS/LONG BEACH
Source: Flight International
