Abstract
The United States has an extensive array of launch options. This chapter addresses US space launch programs from two perspectives. The first is via policy: the various means, from executive branch policy documents to legislation, that the US government shapes the goals and direction of both government and commercial launch services. The second is via technology: an examination of the major orbital and suborbital launch vehicles in service today or under development by both government agencies and private companies and how well these vehicles meet the goals laid out in national policy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
ATK (2012) ATK announces complete liberty system to provide commercial crew access. http://atk.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=25280&item=128260. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
DARPA Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA). http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/TTO/Programs/Airborne_Launch_Assist_Space_Access_%28ALASA%29.aspx. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
FAA/AST (2004) Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004 (PL 108–492). http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/PL108-492.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
FAA/AST (2012) Commercial space transportation: 2011 year in review. http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/2012_YearinReview.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
Foust J (2010) Space launch capabilities and national strategy considerations. Astropolitics 8(2–3):175–193
Isakowitz SJ, Hopkins JB, Hopkins JP Jr (2004) International reference guide to space launch systems, 4th edn. AIAA, Reston
Leone D (2012) Orbital sciences replaces SpaceX on Stratolaunch project. Space News. http://www.spacenews.com/article/orbital-sciences-replaces-spacex-on-stratolaunch-project. Accessed 27 Dec 2012
Lockheed Martin Corporation Athena Ic and IIc space launch vehicles. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/space/documents/tradeshows/smallsat2012/Athena%20Fact%20Sheet%20Review%20vers%204.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
NASA (2012) NASA’s commercial crew program progressing for future of U.S. human spaceflight. http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/crew/ccicap-announcement.html. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
NASA (2012) NASA selects launch services contract for three missions. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/jul/HQ_C12-028_RSLP-19_Launch_Services.html. Accessed 27 Dec 2012
NASA (2012) NASA sounding rockets annual report 2012. http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/files/Sounding_Rockets_Annual_Report_2012.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares medium-class launch vehicle. http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Antares_Brochure.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
Orbital Sciences Corporation Minotaur I space launch vehicle. http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Minotaur_I_Fact.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
Orbital Sciences Corporation Minotaur IV & V. http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Minotaur/IV/. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
Orbital Sciences Corporation Pegasus. http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Pegasus_fact.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
Orbital Sciences Corporation Taurus. http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Taurus_fact.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
SpaceX (2012) SpaceX awarded two EELV-class missions from the United States Air Force. http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20121205. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
The Boeing Company (2003) Boeing updates assessment of launch and satellite businesses in weak commercial space markets; to record $1.1 billion second quarter charge. http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2003/q3/nr_030715a.html. Accessed 27 Dec 2012
The White House (2010) National space policy of the United States of America. http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/national_space_policy_6-28-10.pdf. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
U.S. Government Printing Office (2010) National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (PL 111–267). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ267/html/PLAW-111publ267.htm. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
U.S. House of Representatives (2012) National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (H.R. 4310) (Conference Report 112–705). http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.4310. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
United Launch Alliance Atlas V. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Products_AtlasV.shtml. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
United Launch Alliance Delta II. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Products_DeltaII.shtml. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
United Launch Alliance Delta IV. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Products_DeltaIV.shtml. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
Virgin Galactic (2012) Virgin Galactic Reveals Privately Funded Satellite Launcher and Confirms SpaceShip Two Poised for Powered Flight. http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/xxx/. Accessed 28 Dec 2012
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this entry
Cite this entry
Foust, J. (2015). United States Space Launch Programs. In: Schrogl, KU., Hays, P., Robinson, J., Moura, D., Giannopapa, C. (eds) Handbook of Space Security. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2029-3_32
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2029-3_32
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-2028-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-2029-3
eBook Packages: EngineeringReference Module Computer Science and Engineering