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Post-Challenger Assessment of Space Shuttle Flight Rates and Utilization (1986) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix D: Shuttle Utilization
Pages 39-42

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From page 39...
... Presentations to the panel from several sources indicated that the demonstrated flight rate of 10-12 flights per year was severely stressing shuttle operations capabilities at all the affected NASA centers. The future manifest through 1991 indicated a still higher flight rate.
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From page 40...
... The demand for physical sciences was initially very high, particularly since physical sciences missions weren't assessed launch costs as part of project costs. But a severe disenchantment has set in with unexpected costs, procedures, man-rating specifications and delays, particularly for physical science missions that could be done at least as well, if not better, technically on free flyers launched by ELYs.
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From page 41...
... One major consideration suggests a significantly reduced shuttle utilization as compared with the NASA manifests. Projected costs in the l990s of the NASA civil mission model (payloads and transportation)
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Key Terms

  • flight rate
  • shuttle fleet
  • flight rates
  • launch costs
  • shuttle flights

  • equivalent shuttle
  • current space
  • shuttle utilization
  • launch vehicles
  • original purpose

  • free flyers
  • demonstrated flight
  • severe disenchantment
  • rates approaching
  • requiring manned

  • transportation architecture
  • science experiments
  • projected costs
  • launch cost
  • nasa centers

  • sources indicated
  • major shift
  • affected nasa
  • appropriate provision
  • funding considerations

  • future composition
  • operations capabilities
  • major consideration
  • station launches
  • significantly reduced


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