Paper Session III-A - Government Trends: Future Launch Vehicles

National policy advocates improving the economy by investing in U. S. industrial competitiveness and encouraging technology transfer from defense to U.S. commercial industry. National space policy emphasizes the need for assured access to space. To achieve these objectives the Space Launch Modernization Plan (SLMP) recommended four options. The option selected, investing $2 billion to evolve existing technologies, will result in an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) that: 1. Significantly reduces the annual recurring cost of launch (at least 25% less than current systems with an objective of 50% reduction in the annual cost of spacelift). 2. Consists of a family of vehicles that is technically achievable. 3. Uses a standard payload interface, standard launch platforms, and infrastructure capable of launching all the configurations of EELV. 4. Launches safely, effectively, and responsively in accordance with long range, deliberative, and reactive planning. Cost reduction considerations dominates these requirements. Other nontradeable parameters include Performance, Design Reliability, and Standardization. To the extent that these primary objectives are achieved, the other areas of responsiveness, timeliness, and supportability will be traded. This paper will address the genesis of the EELV, the requirements trade space, and the acquisition strategy employed to implement the SLMP recommendation