A METHOD FOR EVALUATION OF SPACE LAUNCHERS

This report presents an operations research method to evaluate space l aunch vehicles. For this reason the investigated launchers will be des cribed on an equal level of elements with characterizing attributes. T hese elements are combined on the basis of a mission scenario leading to launch scenarios. These contain several different launchers that op erate within the same period of time. The evaluation is performed by c omparing the alternative launch scenarios. The characterizing attribut es of the launchers included within each launch scenario are examined and the resulting attributes of the individual launch scenarios are co mbined by weighing factors. As the final result the benefit of each la unch scenario relative to the others is obtained. The method is verifi ed by means of a simple launch scenario model. This model includes an expendable rocket launcher (ARIANE X) and a horizontally launched wing ed reusable system (SANGER/HORUS). The criteria of evaluation are cost s and environmental impact.