Economics of Military Space Launching Systems

This paper presents a brief review of our present national launch vehicle inventory, and discusses briefly the economic characteristics of these systems. Continual emphasis should be placed upon the means of finding more economical launch vehicles, and potential concepts are discussed which may offer economic benefits to future military space operations. Military requirements for future systems are discussed in a general manner in stressing the need for a valid reliability-cost tradeoff. Finally, any system is dependent upon sound technical management, and continued progress in this area is also essential. Continued Air Force selective studies are required in order to establish the planning data upon which future system selection can be made.