Cost Comparison Of Expendable, Hybrid and Reusable Launch Vehicles

This study compares the developmental, production, and maintenance costs DPM of twostage- to-orbit TSTO expendable ELV, hybrid HLV, and reusable RLV launch systems. This comparison was accomplished using top level mass and cost estimating relations MERs, CERs. Mass estimating relationships were correlated to existing launch system data and ongoing launch system studies. Cost estimating relations were derived from Dr. Dietrich Koelles Handbook of Cost Engineering for Space Transportation Systems. Hybrid launch vehicles appear to be preferable if current or modest increases in launch rates are projected while reusable launch vehicles appear preferable for large projected increases in launch rates.