From Earth to Orbit

If the United States hopes to continue as a leader in space, it must invest now in better earth-to-orbit technology by replacing obsolete launch facilities while also developing a new class of more robust and reliable vehicles.

From Earth to Orbit provides strategies to reduce launch costs while increasing the reliability and resiliency of vehicles. It also recommends continued improvements for the Space Shuttle Orbiter and its subsystems and the development of a Space Transportation Main Engine (STME).

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• List of Figures and Tables
• Summary of Key Findings and Recommendations
• Terms, Acronyms, and Abbreviations
• 1 Introduction
• 2 A Path to a Desirable National Space Launch System
• 3 Projected Launch Requirements
• 4 Launch Vehicle Options
• 5 Propulsion Capabilities for Earth-to-Orbit Launch Vehicle
• 6 Technology Development
• Biographical Sketches of Committee Members
• Appendix A An Approach to Space Infrastructure
• Appendix B List of Participants
• Appendix C Bibliography
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