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A room with a view like never before

The USC�UNIVERSAL SPACE CRUISER

Mandy Cordova�ASTE 527

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President Obama recently extended the life of the International Space Station to 2020, but is only allowing one additional shuttle flight past the original retirement date

WHAT’S THE NEXT MOVE?

Problem:

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CONS:

  • Challenger and Columbia tragedies
  • Risks in original design
  • Aging/obsolete technology
  • Aging but developmental at the same time
  • Access to space is inflexible
  • Versatility of shuttle makes it expensive
  • Payload is $10K/lb
  • Crew escape poor, too expensive to make modifications

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PROS:

  • Multipurpose
  • Multitasking
  • People/payload Ferry
  • Conducts experiments
  • Repair/maintenance missions

Option 1: Shuttle Modifications

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"I've heard it [landing in a Soyuz capsule] described as a train wreck followed by a car crash followed by falling off your bike"

– NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson (flight engineer on Soyuz TMA-18 Expedition 23)

Option 2: Russian Soyuz

Pro: NASA already signed a contract, which provides for six

astronauts to launch on four Soyuz vehicles in 2013 and

return on two vehicles in 2013 and two in 2014

Con: Plan after 2014?, Costs 141M for transport, Limited �seating, dated technology, very few launching/landing sites, �harsh landings, massive g-forces

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Option 3: US Military X37B

Performance

  • Orbital speed: 17,500 mph, 28,200 km/h
  • Orbit: Low Earth orbit
  • Orbital time: Up to 270 days

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General characteristics

  • Crew: None
  • Length: 29 ft 3 in (8.9 m)
  • Wingspan: 14 ft 11 in (4.5 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m)
  • Loaded weight: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
  • Power: Gallium Arsenide Solar Cells with

lithium-Ion batteries Payload & Payload Bay: �500 lb (227 kg), 7 ft x 4 ft (2.1 m x 1.2 m)

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CON:

  • Military purpose trumps ferry usage
  • International implications regarding ulterior motives
  • Budget/Time issues
  • Dependent on president/economy/

health of the US

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The beginnings of the USC

Privately Built�Single-Stage-To-Orbit Reusable Launch Vehicles

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Crew Size: 6 Habitable Volume: 20.00 m3

AKA: Clipper �Gross mass: 12,500 kg (27,500 lb) �Payload: 500-700 kg (1,100-1540 lb) �Height: 12.00 m (39.00 ft)�Diameter: 3.90 m (12.70 ft) �Span: 8.00 m (26.20 ft).�

KLIPER

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  • Soyuz Replacement
  • Funded through at least 2015)
  • People ferry to ISS
  • Increase quantity of passengers
  • More efficient rescue/emergency� vehicle
  • lower G force on re-entry

ONE PURPOSE: TRANSPORT PEOPLE!

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  • More landing sites
  • Ferry to different parts of ISS during the same mission
  • Improved comfort
  • Simple components
  • Reusable so no wastes in space.
  • Long lifecycle (30 to 40 years)

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  • Potential for joint ventures!

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Take the Kliper technology one step further…

To the Universal Space Cruiser (USC)

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Just as you would use a tender to get to a cruise ship, so would you use the USC to get to the ISS.

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Universal Space Cruiser

Tender

Ship

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  • Will NOT be multitasking/multipurpose
  • Smaller, lighter, more maneuverable
  • Lower fuel costs
  • Less complex to build and fly
  • Faster turnaround time between flights
  • Reusable
  • Eliminates “space junk”

Land on existing global ground infrastructure!

PEOPLE MOVER and WASTE REDUCER

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Launches and landings will be a� highly publicized, visible and awe-inspiring activity again

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From Cruise Ports

- Many ports and many ships

- Price depends on location

- Price depends on duration

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To SPACEPORTS

- Eventually many ports and many planes

- Price depends on location

- Price depends on duration

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Renew faith in space exploration -- leading to increased funding for science and further discovery

UNIVERSAL SPACE CRUISER

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The Future of Space Travel is for EVERYONE…comfort, affordability and accessibility is no longer optional.

USC

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Thank You

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USC

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SOURCES