Hearings

CENTAUR ORBIT-TO-ORBIT SHUTTLE

Space Tug and Orbit-to-Orbit Shuttle (OOS) conceptual phase studies have been conducted for NASA,
DOD, and ELDO. These studies concentrated on defining new vehicles and were based on long
range plans that were very preliminary and had no budgetary constraints imposed.

The use of current vehicles or near-term derivatives of these vehicles (in conjunction with
Space Shuttle) can satisfy initial requirements and will allow adequate time for the solidification
of future plans; in the overall planning, use of current or derivative vehicles will permit realistic
budgetary phasing for the acquisition of new systems. The Centaur vehicle (currently integrated
with NASA and COMSAT payloads), with its high-performance characteristics, LO2/LH2 propel-
lants, and excellent shuttle cargo bay compatibility, is a leading contender for this Orbit-to-Orbit
Shuttle role.

SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

The elements of a Space Transportation System are depicted on the facing pages. Briefly these consist of:

1. The Space Shuttle for the transport of manned and unmanned payloads and their supporting propulsive stages to and from near earth orbits.

2. The Orbit-to-Orbit Shuttle for the transport of unmanned payloads from near earth orbits to high-altitude and escape orbits. This system element may be operated in either an expendable or reusable mode.

3. The Space Tug for the transport of manned payloads to and from near earth to intermediate

altitude orbits.

This system element operates in a reusable mode. Depending on payload weight and orbital altitude, the orbit-to-orbit shuttle and space tug may be employed as single or multiple units.

SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

GENERAL DYNAMICS Convair Aerospace Division

SPACE TUG/OOS

(BOOSTER)

(ORBITER)

SPACE SHUTTLE/OOS MISSION

The Space Shuttle has the capability of delivering an integrated propulsion system and payload to
low-altitude earth orbit. The payload, integrated with its propulsion system, may be transported
to orbit as a unit in the cargo bay of the shuttle orbiter vehicle. On reaching orbit, the cargo bay
doors are opened and the integrated payload and propulsion system are egressed by means of a
remotely controlled deployment mechanism. After separating from the orbiter, the Orbit-to-Orbit
Shuttle propulsion system ignites and commences the transfer of the payload to the desired mission
orbit.

Grāmatas