Lowest Lifecycle Cost (LLC) Expendable Launch Vehicles

ABSTRACT: To meet the goals of future generation of ELVs, significant improvements must be made in cost. Current expendable launch vehicles are designed using an optimum performance methodology. Recent studies and technology demonstrations suggest that designing to minimum cost may have life cycle cost advantages over a performance optimized ELVs. The goal of this program is to identify and validate high payoff propulsion technologies to enable lowest lifecycle cost ELV design. BENEFIT: The reference vehicle design will be optimized to meet requirements of future military and commercial spacelift applications. Dual-use optimization is critical to meet the lowest lifecycle cost goals of the program. Successful implementation of MCD will ensure an ELV that can compete in commercial market. The technology is applicable to DARPA XS-1 program and can be adapted to commercial or government RLV and expendable launch vehicles.