Accession Number:

ADA536415

Title:

America's Access to Space: Assuring Future Affordability

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s):

• Ehrlich, David A.

Report Date:

2010-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

107.0

Abstract:

This thesis evaluates the U.S. government policies that mandate the DoD launch government payloads only from vehicles produced domestically as a means to protect Americas national security interests. Unfortunately, over the past decade, the commercial space launch industry has suffered several programmatic and economic setbacks, culminating in the DoD being forced to financially maintain the commercial space launch industry. The result is a quasi- government-run program, plagued by overruns and consuming a preponderance of the DoDs appropriated space-systems budget. How can the DoD afford to continue with its current strategy, given the realities within the industry The evaluation of this question requires a better understanding of three issues challenges within the domestic space launch industry an analysis of domestic and foreign launch systems and a review of outside contributing factors. It is apparent that the DoDs efforts to subsidize the industry are viewed as being essential, based on current policies. However, this strategy may, in fact, be weakening the U.S. space launch industry and creating a single point of failure that could jeopardize the DoDs ability to access space.

Descriptors:

• *NATIONAL SECURITY
• *ECONOMIC IMPACT
• *SPACE LAUNCHED
• *INDUSTRIES
• THESES
• COMMERCE
• POLICIES
• DOMESTIC
• PAYLOAD
• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Subject Categories:

• Economics and Cost Analysis
• Civil Engineering
• Unmanned Spacecraft
• Ground Support Systems and Facilities for Space Vehicles
• Manned Spacecraft

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE