From Earth to Orbit: An Assessment of Transportation Options (1992)

FIGURE 1

Conceptual priority schedule for the National Launch System (NLS).

FIGURE 2

Characteristics of the proposed liquid-oxygen/liquid-hydrogen Space Transportation Main Engine (STME).

FIGURE 3

Hybrid motor that uses liquid oxygen and a solid fuel. The liquid oxidizer flow can be controlled to permit throttling and engine shutdown. Courtesy of Thiokol Corporation.

FIGURE 4

Modular plug engine. Courtesy of Aerojet General Corporation.

FIGURE 5

Proposed schedule for the development and construction of a new launch infrastructure.

FIGURE 6

Proposed schematic for East Coast launch facilities.

FIGURE 7

Proposed schematic for West Coast launch facilities.

TABLE 1

Conservative Projection of Traffic Requirements

TABLE 2

Current and Proposed U.S. Launch Vehicles

TABLE 3

International Launch Systems

TABLE 4

Characteristics of U.S. and International Liquid-Oxygen/Hydrocarbon Engines

TABLE 5

Characteristics of Flight-Proven U.S. and International Liquid-Oxygen/Liquid-Hydrogen Engines

TABLE 6

Characteristics of Flight-Proven U.S. and International Nitrogen-Tetroxide/Hydrazine-Based Engines

TABLE 7

Characteristics of the Flight-Proven U.S. RSRM and the Proposed ASRM Solid Rocket Motors

TABLE 8

Comparison of the STME and SSME

TABLE 9

Characteristics of Proposed U.S. and International Liquid-Oxygen/Liquid-Hydrogen Engines

TABLE 10

Characteristics of Proposed International Nitrogen-Tetroxide/Hydrazine-Based Engines

TABLE 11

Characteristics of Solid, Liquid, and Hybrid Boosters