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Orbital launch vehicle. Year: 1988. Family: Shuttle. Country: USA. Status: Study 1988. In May 1988 NASA Langley studied a new-technology approach to improving the shuttle's payload capability. The design would allow 9,000 to 18,000 kg of additional payload to be carried in an external payload container or in the orbiter. Composite material technology would be used in a substantial rebuild of the shuttle orbiters. New, lighter RSI tiles would be used, and a new SSME jointly designed by Pratt and Whitney and Aerojet would replace the Rocketdyne motor. The new SSME would deliver 304,000 kg while weighing only 3770 kg versus 4688 kg for the Rocketdyne engine. Electric actuators would replace hydraulic actuators inside the shuttle, In all, the new orbiter would be 16% lighter at SECO. Manufacturer: NASA Langley. LEO Payload: 40,000 kg (88,000 lb). to: 400 km Orbit. at: 28.00 degrees.
Bibliography and Further Reading - Jenkins, Dennis R,, Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System : The First 100 Missions, Third edition, Voyageur Press, 2001. ISBN: 0963397451. Excellent - the most comprehensive account of the design, development, and flights of the space shuttle.Takes the reader from the maze of designs during the first shuttle competition to future plans. More at amazon.com...
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