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Liquid flyback booster pre-phase: A study assessmentThe concept of a flyback booster has been around since early in the shuttle program. The original two-stage shuttle concepts used a manned flyback booster. These boosters were eliminated from the program for funding and size reasons. The current shuttle uses two Redesigned Solid Rocket Motors (RSRM's), which are recovered and refurbished after each flight; this is one of the major cost factors of the program. Replacement options have been studied over the past ten years. The conclusion reached by the most recent study is that the liquid flyback booster (LFBB) is the only competitive option from a life-cycle cost perspective. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and practicality of LFBB's. The study provides an expansion of the recommendations made during the aforementioned study. The primary benefits are the potential for enhanced reusability and a reduction of recurring costs. The potential savings in vehicle turnaround could offset the up-front costs. Development of LFBB's requires a commitment to the shuttle program for 20 to 30 years. LFBB's also offer enhanced safety and abort capabilities. Currently, any failure of an RSRM can be considered catastrophic, since there are no intact abort capabilities during the burn of the RSRM's. The performance goal of the LFBB's was to lift a fully loaded orbiter under optimal conditions, so as not to be the limiting factor of the performance capability of the shuttle. In addition, a final benefit is the availability of growth paths for applications other than shuttle.
Document ID
19950005521
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Peterson, W.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Ankney, W.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Bell, J.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Berning, M.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Bryant, L.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Bufkin, A.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Cain, L.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Caram, J.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Cockrell, B.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Curry, D.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1994
Subject Category
Launch Vehicles And Space Vehicles
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.15:104801
S-778
NASA-TM-104801
Accession Number
95N11934
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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