Space freighters for the 21st century
Abstract
The present account of the characteristics of a space freighter concept which can transport either 300 metric tons to LEO or 100 metric tons to GEO or lunar orbits gives attention to its performance requirements, operations and schedules criteria, and costs. It is established that technology is not the limiting factor for rapid development of the 'Neptune' three-stage vehicle presently discussed, which uses derivatives of the SSMEs and will be of 6000-metric-ton takeoff mass. The Neptune space freighter could become available in the first decade of the 21st century, when it would be complemented by a second-generation Space Shuttle for passenger transport to LEO.
- Publication:
-
Dresden International Astronautical Federation Congress
- Pub Date:
- October 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990dres.iafcX....K
- Keywords:
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- Launch Vehicles;
- Life Cycle Costs;
- Military Spacecraft;
- Spacecraft Design;
- Technological Forecasting;
- Defense Program;
- Earth Orbital Environments;
- Trajectory Analysis;
- Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles