Technology for Space Transportation Systems

Advanced space transportation systems technology is directed towards both increased capability and greatly reduced operations costs. Three areas of space operations are used to define vehicle requirements and to establish technology goals. These operations include earth-to-orbit-and-return, orbit-to-orbit transfer and interplanetary transfer. In the earth-to-orbit area, where transportation costs are the highest, the primary focus is on technologies that will reduce operational costs. Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) technology is aimed at increased versatility, and includes both high thrust reusable systems and high performance, low thrust systems. The technology for interplanetary transfer vehicles continues to focus on Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP). The technologies necessary to achieve these goals involve a number of technical disciplines such as structures and materials, aerothermodynamics, and chemical and electric propulsion. Technology plans have been developed for each technical discipline that are designed to advance critical technologies, such that whatever vehicle development is selected in the future, system capability will meet vehicle requirements at reduced operational costs. Finally, Shuttle technology experiments that will be instrumental in advancing the technology of various technical disciplines have also been identified