| Abstract: | A new upper stage for the Shuttle called Orbiter Transfer Vehicle (OTV) is planned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for a broad range of missions including transfer of very large spacecraft, unmanned and manned servicing at Geosynchronous orbit (GEO). Leading OTV configurations use 13 to 34 tonnes of cryogenic propellants in vehicles based on the existing Centaur or new designs. These OTVs can deliver to Geosynchronous orbit more than double the payload possible with the solid propellant Intertial Upper Stage (IUS), which is currently being developed. This high performance reduces the number of shuttle launches required to deliver a given total mass of payloads. After delivery of current size spacecraft, OTV could be returned to the Orbiter for reuse, saving the cost of building a new stage. OTV performance and flexibility will create the opportunity for the next generation of spacecraft such as Geostationary Platform. In these three ways, the high-performance OTV will provide economic benefits to Space Transportation Systems. |
