Performance and costs of Ariane and Space Shuttle in the transport of satellites to geostationary orbit
Abstract
The volume and mass capacities, limitations, fuel types, and present and projected transport costs of the Ariane 1-4, STS (with inertial upper stage, payload-assist module, or apogee-boost motor), Titan, Atlas, and Delta systems for the commercial transport of satellites into geostationary transfer and/or geostationary orbit are listed in comparative tables and discussed in detail. It is shown that STS and Titan 34D alone can provide service in the heavy-object (up to 5000 kg in the 1990's) class, that Ariane 1 and 3 cannot compete with STS in the lower weight classes as long as STS is subsidized, that Ariane 4 may be competitive with STS in the 2000-3000-kg range if no liquid-fueled apogee-perigee system exists for the STS inertial-upper-stage mode, and that the Soviet Proton system might be competitive with both STS and Ariane if it is really made available commercially in 1988 as planned.
- Publication:
-
DFVLR
- Pub Date:
- November 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983DFVLR..40...33L
- Keywords:
-
- Ariane Launch Vehicle;
- Space Shuttles;
- Space Transportation System;
- Spacecraft Launching;
- Cost Analysis;
- Inertial Upper Stage;
- Payload Assist Module;
- Payloads;
- Soviet Spacecraft;
- Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles