National Aero-Space Plane Achievements and U.S. Space-Launch Goals

摘要

The U.S. National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) program was concluded in 1994 while still in the technology-development stage. This paper presents considerations of NASP technological advancements and their potential applicability to a variety of options for space-launch vehicles. A brief review of U.S. space-launch history and policy provides background to help to interpret the potential value of the applications.