Project Description

The current crisis in American human spaceflight has generated a great deal of concern and confusion in the general public, as well as in the aerospace sector, regarding booster systems, how they are developed, and what might be the best path forward for the United States and the rest of the world.

While there is little argument that the United States needs to have diverse and cost effective lift capability, there is debate regarding whether the approach to this necessary system is a national asset or an international asset with national components. This discussion has political, policy technical and commercial aspects that also have significant implications for the commercial space sector.

The human rated launch system, in particular, is facing a serious predicament. The resolution and resultant policy implications have serious long term consequences.

Read more here: Heavy Lift Launch Diegelman Duncavage

This paper was first published as part of Space Commerce, The Inside Story, published by the Aerospace Technology Working Group (ATWG) and included on this site through the courtesy of ATWG, ISU and the individual authors.

For reference, we are also providing the front cover and table of contents.

Other extracts from this publication can be found here.