Orbital Transfer Vehicle Concept Definition and Systems Analysis Study, Volume 1: Executive Summary

The NASA sponsored, advanced upper stage studies conducted during the past decade will provide major solutions to help determine the future program for advanced technology orbital transfer vehicles operating both from the ground and from a space base. The space based systems will provide a new era of payload delivery capabilities for a wide variety of users, with space basing advantages and new economics for the users. This study describes our recommended cryogenic OTV operating from the ground to meet mid 199Os user needs. The ground based OTV evolves to a space based system operating from the NASA Space station now being defined. The proposed OTV plan incorporates the best features of a new OTV, the lOC and growth Space Station, the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) for support operations, and the STS expanded with the multipurpose external tank Aft Cargo Carrier (ACC) as a logistics system. The ACC provides launch cargo space to augment the Shuttle bay volume and supports an STS propellant scavenging system.