Air Force, NASA and Commercial Cooperation in Establishing a Robust Space Infrastructure

The United States has the technological capability to establish a robust space transportation, habitation and logistical support infrastructure in the first decade of the new century. This infrastructure will benefit all three sectors of the U.S. space program—commercial, civil and national defense—by providing shared capabilities that will improve the safety, reliability and affordability of all three sectors' primary space operations. This paper proposes specific technical approaches for establishing such an integrated infrastructure. The proposed infrastructure includes: reusable launch vehicles (RLV) for "airline-like" access to low Earth orbit (LEO); large spaceports in LEO capable of providing safe habitation for 100–150 people; and an integrated network of logistical support capabilities utilizing these RLVs and spaceports. The need for integrated planning to define and develop this common infrastructure is discussed.