No abstract

No abstract

is pursuing Centaur derivatives that will provide a common-stage supporting launch vehicle, upper-stage-applications, and the in-space/ascent/descent longduration needs. Lockheed Martin's common-stage concept would provide efficient, robust in-space transportation, and take advantage of the high-mass fraction that is enabled by Centaur's moncoque design and its common bulkhead to minimize combined LO 2 /LH 2 boil off. Lunar exploration missions that take advantage of the high Specific Impulse (sec) (ISP) of LO 2 /LH 2 propulsion for in-space transportation have initial mass-to-orbit launch requirements less than half of those using traditional storable propulsion stages. Therefore, the application of long-duration LO 2 /LH 2 in-space propulsion technology will result in significant launch cost savings for space exploration. We would achieve passive longduration capability by implementing cross cutting Cryogenic Operation for Long Duration (COLD) technologies, and improve cryogenic storage capability by more than two orders of magnitude compared to existing large-scale flight-proven systems. Using a common stage for launch-vehicle upper stage and in-space operations reduces development and recurring costs while providing the high-flight rate needed to achieve the demonstrated high reliability required for crewed space exploration.

No abstract

No abstract