U.S. Commercial Space Transporation Developments and Concepts: Vehicles, Technologies, and Spaceports, 2003

摘要

This report reviews the major events relating to U.S. commercial space transportation in the past year and showcases current and planned U.S. commercial and commercially-oriented activities. The Federal Aviation Administration Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST) first published the report in 1998 with an exclusive focus on reusable launch vehicles (RLV). The current edition addresses not only RLVs but also expendable launch vehicles (ELV), propulsion technologies, and launch and reentry sites--commonly referred to as spaceports to provide a complete picture of the U.S. commercial space transportation industry. This report objectively reviews space transportation programs and projects as well as launch and reentry sites that will impact and support the development of commercial space activities and applications. The private sector plays a prominent role in the management, development, and funding of these activities; the federal government and several state governments substantially contribute to or provide leadership for many of the technologies and facilities described herein as well. With the exception of a few X PRIZE vehicle concepts, all activities and developments described in this report are being led by U.S. entities.