SINGLE-STAGE-TO-ORBIT - MEETING THE CHALLENGE

There has been and continues to be significant discussion about the vi ability of fully reusable, single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) concepts for d elivery of payloads to orbit. Often, these discussions have focused in detail on performance and technology requirements relating to the tec hnical feasibility of the concept, with only broad generalizations on how the SSTO will achieve its economic goals of greatly reduced vehicl e ground and flight operations costs. With the current industry and NA SA Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Program efforts underway to matu re and demonstrate technologies leading to a viable commercial launch system that also satisfies national needs, achieving acceptable recurr ing costs becomes a significant challenge. This paper reviews the curr ent status of the Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Program including the DC-XA, X-33, X-34 flight systems and associated technology progra ms. The paper also examines lessons learned from the recently complete d DC-X reusable rocket demonstrator program. It examines how these tec hnologies and flight systems address the technical and operability cha llenges of SSTO whose solutions are necessary to reduce costs. The pap er also discusses the management and operational approaches that addre ss the challenge of a new cost-effective, reusable launch vehicle syst em.