A. Earth surface to LEO transport of personnel and high priority cargo, B. Earth surface- to LEO transport of large amounts of cargo, C. LEO to GEO transport of personnel and high priority cargo, and D. LEO to GEO transport of large amounts of cargo. 1.2.5.2 The PLV ( Personnel Launch Vehicle ) Fig. 25.1: PERSONNEL LAUNCH VEHICLE [Source 78/55] The DOE/NASA selected a PLV for their SPS-reference system with the following characteristics: A consequent utilisation of the Space Shuttle Orbiter with a reduced-size External Tank and a winged liquid-propellant fly-back booster. The orbiter has a transportation capabiltiy for 75 passengers or an equivalent of high priority cargo. The resized external tank carries 546 tons of propellant instead of 715 tons currently. 1.2.5.3 The HLLV ( Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle ) The selected HLLV concept is a two stage winged vehicle with a LEO-payload capability of 424 tons and a gross lift off weight of 11040 tons. This launcher uses 16 CH4/O2 engines on the booster stage with a total thrust of 156.65 x iOb N and 14 standard Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME’s) on the or biter with a total thrust of 29.26 x 106 N. The booster has, in addition, 4 turbojets providing flyback capability.
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