Location

Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel, Columbia/ Enterprise Rooms

Start Date

24-4-1991 2:00 PM

End Date

24-4-1991 5:00 PM

Description

The Personnel Launch System (PLS) Is currently planned to supplement the Space Shuttle in the year 2000 by transporting eight passengers and two crewmembers to and from Space Station Freedom (SSF). Alternate PLS missions include satellite servicing and on-orbit rescue. The importance of the PLS assured access to space role is supported by recommendation No. 11 of the Augustine Committee's Report of the Advisory Committee on the Future of the U.S. Space Program, which states: "That NASA initiate design effort so that manned activity in the Space Station could be supported in the absence of the Space Shuttle. Crew recovery capability must be available immediately, and provision made for the relatively rapid introduction of a two-way personnel transport module on a selected expendable launch vehicle.** Winged high-lift and biconic medium-lift PLS spacecraft configurations are being studied in conjunction with several potential launch vehicles. At Kennedy Space Center (KSC), these spacecraft and booster concepts are being evaluated to determine processing requirements and attendant impacts on the ongoing Space Transportation System (STS) launch environment and infrastructure.

From these launch site studies, design recommendations are being developed. One of the primary goals in the PLS study is to design a vehicle that is easy to maintain and turnaround for launch, particularly in view of the proposed 30-year life cycle. Current KSC studies and recommendations are therefore critical in developing operationally efficient spacecraft and launch vehicle designs that minimize launch site impacts.

Comments

Space Shuttle and Derivatives

Session Chairman: Brewster H. Shaw, Deputy Director, Space Shuttle Operations, NASA Headquarters

Session Organizer: Patricia Houston, Manager, Project Integration, McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company, Kennedy Space Center, FL

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Apr 24th, 2:00 PM Apr 24th, 5:00 PM

Paper Session II-B - Personal Launch System -Launch Site Processing Perspective

Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel, Columbia/ Enterprise Rooms

The Personnel Launch System (PLS) Is currently planned to supplement the Space Shuttle in the year 2000 by transporting eight passengers and two crewmembers to and from Space Station Freedom (SSF). Alternate PLS missions include satellite servicing and on-orbit rescue. The importance of the PLS assured access to space role is supported by recommendation No. 11 of the Augustine Committee's Report of the Advisory Committee on the Future of the U.S. Space Program, which states: "That NASA initiate design effort so that manned activity in the Space Station could be supported in the absence of the Space Shuttle. Crew recovery capability must be available immediately, and provision made for the relatively rapid introduction of a two-way personnel transport module on a selected expendable launch vehicle.** Winged high-lift and biconic medium-lift PLS spacecraft configurations are being studied in conjunction with several potential launch vehicles. At Kennedy Space Center (KSC), these spacecraft and booster concepts are being evaluated to determine processing requirements and attendant impacts on the ongoing Space Transportation System (STS) launch environment and infrastructure.

From these launch site studies, design recommendations are being developed. One of the primary goals in the PLS study is to design a vehicle that is easy to maintain and turnaround for launch, particularly in view of the proposed 30-year life cycle. Current KSC studies and recommendations are therefore critical in developing operationally efficient spacecraft and launch vehicle designs that minimize launch site impacts.

 

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