A fully reusable launch vehicle for Europe?
Abstract
It is argued in this paper that Europe should make a serious attempt to lead the commercial launcher field by building a fully reusable space transporter based on advanced propulsion concepts and structures. By analogy with the history of commercial aircraft it is postulated that such a development would not only enable traffic growth to be forced but also guarantee a major fraction of the 21st century world market for Europe, initially in spacecraft launches and later in launch vehicle sales.
- Publication:
-
IN: Space - Technology and opportunity; Proceedings of the Conference
- Pub Date:
- 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985sto..proc..221B
- Keywords:
-
- Commercial Spacecraft;
- European Space Programs;
- Reusable Launch Vehicles;
- Space Commercialization;
- Space Transportation;
- Spacecraft Design;
- Spacecraft Launching;
- Technological Forecasting;
- Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles