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From Earth to Orbit An Assessment of Transportation Options (1992) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
Pages 11-14

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From page 11...
... The NRC was asked to examine transportation requirements, including those for Mission-to-Planet Earth, Space Station Freedom assembly and operation, human exploration of space, space science missions, and other major civil space missions. These requirements were to be compared with existing, planned, and potential launch capabilities, including expendable launch vehicles (ELVs)
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From page 12...
... , Department of Defense, National Space Council, Department of Transportation, Office of Technology Assessment, Department of Energy, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, independent research organizations, and many representatives from launch vehicle and propulsion companies. During this process, the Committee familiarized itself with launch traffic databases; civil, defense, and commercial mission models, requirements, and cost modeling; the capability, availability, and environmental effects of liquid' hybrid, and solid rocket motors; and venous launch systems.
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From page 13...
... encourage, to the maximum extent feasible, the development and growth of U.S. private sector space transportation capabilities which can compete internationally.' apply to all three sectors.2 -- rip -rid The national policy objectives In the past, the United States had a near monopoly on the commercial space launch business.
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From page 14...
... The Committee also benefitted from the work of numerous previous study groups, and a list of key reports appears in Appendix C In addition to the many helpful briefings, the Committee requested a large number of written responses concerning various issues and wishes to thank all of the contributors from NASA and its contractors; the Departments of Defense, Transportation, and Energy; individual aerospace companies; and independent research organizations for their cooperation in providing existing information and in researching some of the areas that arose.
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Key Terms

  • space transportation
  • launch vehicles
  • solid rocket
  • space shuttle
  • rocket motor

  • space council
  • space launch
  • various launch
  • main engine
  • policy objectives

  • independent research
  • expendable launch
  • potential launch
  • launch vehicle
  • national launch

  • freedom assembly
  • budgetary environment
  • launch infrastructure
  • maximum extent
  • views regarding

  • financing arrangements
  • delay expenditures
  • require equatorial
  • technological feasibility
  • transportation elements

  • technology priorities
  • upper stages
  • larger market
  • individual aerospace
  • providing existing


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