Our countries space program has no consistent evolution from one major program to the next. We put a man on the moon then stopped. We built a Space Station and Space Shuttle then stopped. In 1975 and 1985 NASA presented a Shuttle Derived Heavy Lift Vehicle that didn't get supported. We need to develop a National Space Plan that operates within a given budget and in an infrastructure mode, one step at a time. The National Space Plan will then guide the selection of a Heavy Launch Vehicle System. In 1985 the Air Force and NASA jointly funded and managed a study to define the next Launch Vehicle system that could evolve over time and could fly a wide range of mission requirements. They formed a program office with a representative from every NASA and Air Force space office and contracted four companies to conduct a Space Transportation Architecture Study (STAS). All four companies presented results a formal Architecture in early 1986. Three of the companies were given contracts (1987 through early 1992) to proceed to Preliminary Design Review (PDR). This phase of the program was originally called "Advanced Launch System"(ALS) then changed to "National Launch System". At PDR a family of vehicles (technologies proven with full-scale hardware manufactured and tested) was selected by NASA and the Air Force that could satisfy all the missions of the time and evolve into a Heavy Lift Vehicle with a capability of up to 700,000 lbs to low earth orbit for human space missions well into the future. The vehicles were modular and were integrated in ways that gave NASA and the Air Force the new vehicles they needed. The NLS government program office presented a price of $10 billion (1991 dollars) for Full Scale Development, which would have provided all the development cost for new vehicles and related facilities at both coasts for both agencies. The NLS was cancelled in early 1992. This paper will provide a summary of the NLS program proven technologies, design and operation concepts, and cost cutting methods that might be helpful to the current NASA Heavy Lift Concept.
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