Commercial Launch Services: an Enabler for Launch Vehicle Evolution and Cost Reduction

Abstract

Expanded space utilization for exploration or exploitation has been stymied partially by the high cost of space access. These high costs are driven primarily by the technical challenge of space flight and the low launch rates. Since the Apollo era, numerous efforts have been under taken to significantly reduce the cost of space access. The assumption has been that development of a low cost launch system will stimulate demand, enabling new uses of space for the betterment of mankind.The retirement of the space shuttle and the transition to the VSE provides a unique opportunity for America to encourage competitive, commercial launch resulting in a stronger, healthier, more robust launch industry. Such a robust, commercial launch industry reduces launch costs for all. This unique opportunity consists of opening the ISS service requirements and elements of the exploration program to commercial competition. Combined, the ISS servicing and exploration launch requirements offer the opportunity to increase America's competitive launch demand by more than a factor of four. Such a huge increase in launch demand offers the opportunity to provide a solid foundation from which industry can make investment decisions and dramatically lower cost. This paper proposes that NASA commercially purchase all future launch services, including ISS service and the launch requirements for all phases of lunar exploration and beyond. This commercial purchase of launch services will provide the foundation of a robust commercial launch industry and dramatically lower cost. This paper also shows how NASA's currently planned exploration architecture readily accommodates and even benefits from commercial launch services.NASA's use of commercial launch services is consistent with President Bush's mandate for the Vision for Space Exploration: "Promote international and commercial participation in exploration to further U.S. scientific, security and economic interests." This is also consistent with Griffin's public remarks: "We believe that when we engage the engine of competition, these services will be provided in a more cost-effective fashion than when the government has to do it."

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