ACCESS TO SPACE - SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES TO SUPPORT IT

Many of the launch systems that are used by the United States to send payloads to orbit trace their heritage to military systems of the 1950 s and 1960s. Even with launch systems built on more recent technology, the cost of placing a payload in orbit is thousands of dollars per po und. To develop new customers with heretofore only dreamed-of missions -tourism in space, power from the moon, etc.-the cast of placing a pay load in orbit must be reduced by an order of magnitude or more. Since the propulsion system is the cornerstone of a space transportation sys tem, it has a major impact on the acquisition and operations costs. Im provements in materials and in manufacturing technology are needed to develop lightweight, high-strength materials for efficient and economi c structures, thermal protection systems, tanks, etc. Operational cons iderations, such as fewer vehicle elements to check out and to integra te, have a significant impact on lowering launch costs and should be g iven strong consideration in the choice of materials and propulsion sy stems. Achievement of a substantially more maintainable and capable la unch system is feasible. Benefits will be well worth the cost and risk .