Commercial launch vehicle services

Plans to discontinue the use of expendable launch vehicles have been reevaluated in view of the growing number of communications satellite payloads. A White House directive of May 16, 1983, makes space hardware, services, and facilities available to private sector users. Whereas the customer must bear all costs, the government will absorb the sunk costs of research and development. The five primary launch vehicles available to commercial users are described. When mated with the payload-assisted module D (PAM-D), the Delta 3920 can carry a 1200 kg payload into transfer orbit at a cost of $18.5 million. Ariane 2/3 can carry a payload weighing as much as 2600 kg, with a launch cost of $25-30 million. The Titan 34D, mated with the IUS, can deliver a payload of about 2500 kg to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It is noted that a second Atlas class is being developed which will be able to deliver 5200 kg to orbit. Costs for the Space Shuttle will continue to range from $14 million to $20 million until 1988. After that, however, the costs may rise by as much as 70 percent.