Launch Vehicle Design Features for Minimum Cost

Abstract

NASA has cost and safety goals of $220/kg to low-earth-orbit and one chance of crew loss in one million manned launch attempts. Published studies favor complex, infant, reusable, air-breathing technologies, assuming that reduced vehicle size results in reduced cost. Rough order of magnitude analysis and historical review do not support this assumption. Low purchase, launch and processing costs and high flight rate are either independent of propulsion mode or better satisfied by rocket propulsion.