MAINTENANCE AND RESUPPLY ORBIT TRANSFER VEHICLE Power satellites in geosynchronous orbit will require periodic maintenance and resupply, probably performed by a manned vehicle. The Future Space Transportation Systems Analysis Study has analyzed a number of promising vehicle concepts for this application. Shown is an oxygen/hydrogen rocket vehicle with a crew module and payload, capable of a round trip between low orbit and geosynchronous orbit. Maintenance and resupply costs, assuming two visits per satellite per year, are estimated to be less than 10% of the annual revenue capability of each satellite. When the number of satellites in operation exceeds 10 or 20, a manned maintenance base in geosynchronous orbit could reduce transportation costs associated with maintenance and resupply.
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