VUSSP Releases SRB Launcher Concept

In the past two months, VUSSP engineers have been hard at work designing the next generation space vehicle to take over as the new workhorse of the organization. This new workhorse utilizes the space shuttle Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) as the primary stage launcher for all subsequent missions.

They have proven to be far more efficient and much more economical and are ideal for both earth orbital and earth to moon missions of both the manned and unmanned kind. The launcher will utilize a number of different space vehicles that work together to ensure that all kinds of missions can be performed.

The Concept
The SRB launcher system can carry out a number of tasks, making it a very versatile launch system that can be used for both manned and unmanned space flight operations.

HL-20
The HL-20 is a very capable vehicle that can be used for personnel transport to space stations in earth orbit, and can also be used in a CERV (Crew Emergency Rescue Vehicle) type manner, which would allow astronauts onboard another spacecraft or in a space station to quickly come back to earth. The HL-20 takes its name from NASA-Langley’s HL-10 lifting body demonstrator from the 1960′s and 1970′s. HL-20 is a circa-1991 NASA-Langley study, based on studies of the Soviet BOR-4 (Spiral) vehicle configuration, modified and improved. HL-20 has been enlarged and adapted to serve as a crew transport and station emergency rescue vehicle. With a crew of two and eight passengers, plus about 2 tons of cargo, the HL-20 can perform crew rotations at any VUSSP space station, and/or remain docked to a station long-term to provide an emergency escape vehicle. The HL-20 could be launched in the payload bay of a Space Shuttle, though the preferred method is obviously atop an expendable launcher.

The SRB launcher system will be used in future flights following this months STS-13 shuttle mission.

More information may be found at http://www.vussp.com