Post-Apollo earth-lunar space transportation systems

The Lunar space transportation system employed during the APOLLO program (the SATURN V launch vehicle and an APOLLO spacecraft) has been an expendable system. This is no longer in use since 1975 and is also to expensive to be used in the future again. Therefore reusable lunar logistic systems are considered for the next phase of lunar development. Definitions of such advanced systems and ground rules for their design are discussed. Selection criteria were derived and weighted. A morphological analysis led to two candidate systems which were analysed in detail. Their mass characteristics, performance and cost have been estimated to a degree to make meaningful comparisons. Performance and cost trends as functions of transportation volume and as function of time habe been calculated and presented for a single stage ballistic lunar STS and a heavy lift lunar STS. It is shown how it would be possible to return to the Moon in a cost-effective way during the next phase of lunar development. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: RN 3442(298) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman