Automated Shuttle--Space Transportation for 21st Century

The Space Transportation Plan for the 21st Century Commercial Space Shuttle and Space Based Fleet by Don Nelson “To get somewhere... we have to know where we’re going!” NASA MUST HAVE A FEASIBLE AND REALISTIC LONG RANGE SPACE TRANSPORTATION PLAN. WITHOUT “THIS” PLAN THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO STAGNATE! ·        REDUCE THE COST OF LAUNCH OPERATIONS BY DEVELOPING A COMMERCIAL SPACE SHUTTLE FLEET (See: Commercial Space Shuttle Revival and Privatization). ·        REDUCE COST OF NEAR EARTH/DEEP SPACE TRANSPORTATION BY DEVELOPING A SPACE BASED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM(S) DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ROBOTIC, HUMAN, MILITARY, AND COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND TO BE OPERATED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR (See: Space Based Transportation Plan). ·        RESTRUCTURE NASA AS AN AGENCY FOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND SCIENCE EXPORATION. It is mandatory that this nation’s 21st century space transportation system reduce launch operations costs. The two keys factors for reducing launch cost operations is the removal of NASA (government operations) from the control of space flight operations and introducing reusable vehicles for launch, near earth, and deep space transportation. This space transportation plan is an evolutionary process for establishing reusable launch and space based vehicles. In the near term existing expendable space transportation vehicles would supplement space transportation requirements. This is the only viable concept that can provide a feasible and realistic launch system in the foreseeable future. Its development is a mandatory requirement to provide a safe human transportation system. Key to this plan is the long range roadmap that provides direction to NASA and the aerospace community. The development schedule will accelerate or decrease as the needs for exploration requirements dictate. Unlike the SLS/MPCV, the CSS provides a stair step approach outlining the strategic plan for four decades. To get somewhere…we’ve got to know where we’re going.” The funding available may cause the schedule to vary, but the direction is clear. Commercial Space Shuttle Revival and Privatization There has been an extensive undertaking to reduce the cost of expendable launch vehicles but their launch costs are still too high. There has NEVER been any determined effort to reduce the cost of space shuttle operations. It is not too late to revive the space shuttle fleet. The shuttle orbiter airframes Atlantis at KSC and Discovery at the Smithsonian can be retrofitted to commercial configuration until new orbiters can be built.   Competitive Commercial Space Shuttle (CSS) launch cost can be achieved by: ·        Use the existing Orbiter airframes and install modular quick replaceable subsystems. ·        Removing onboard piloting functions to allow unmanned mission operations. ·        Removing all civil service launch operations support. ·        Consolidation of launch and mission operations at the launch site. ·        Automation of ground and flight operations. ·        Shuttle assembly at launch pad. ·        Eliminates cost plus fixed price contracts. ·        Establishing international launch operation cooperation.   Reducing commercial space shuttle launch cost is not a technical challenge…it is a political challenge.   The following chart shows the breakdown where significant cost reductions can be achieved by privatization of the space shuttle operations: As indicated above the two remaining CSS high cost systems are the solid rocket motors (SRM) and the external tank (EXT TK). Removing thrust nozzle gimbaling would significantly lower SRM cost and removing titanium from the external tank would also lower launch cost.   What is the Commercial Space Shuttle (CSS)? The CSS uses the orbiter airframe, external tank, and SRM boosters. The orbiter is updated with subsystem components that are quickly replaceable modules to reduce vehicle turnaround time. Computer software and hardware is upgraded and the vehicle is operation without inflight piloting requirements. Crews will be flown only on missions requiring their support for onboard payloads or to be transferred to space based vehicles. On crewed missions the crew escape pods will be installed. The entry thermal protection system will have on orbit repair capability and advanced X-37 program improved tiles. Pad assembly of the space shuttle will also reduce operations cost and turnaround time. Rapid turn-around is a unique CSS feature and which supports the military requirement and provide the capability of timely intercepts of asteroids/comets that may impact earth. Commercial Launch Market for CSS The predicted average commercial medium to heavy launches for the next ten years is 11 per year. The CSS has the potential to capture a majority of these launches by offering the unique capability of satellite on-orbit checkout before release and returning faulty satellites for repair. Once the space tug is operational satellites can be serviced on-orbit or retrieve. The CSS can offer tourist flights to reduce cost of cargo delivery.