NASA's New Launch Systems May Include the Return of the Space Tug [View All]

NASA planners are finalizing the configuration for the next generation cargo heavy lift launch vehicles with announcement of its basic configuration due during the week of 15 August. An integral part of these studies includes upper stages and other hardware needed to move payloads once they are in space.

As is the case in concepts being developed for crew transport - using the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) (see "NASA's New CEV Launcher to Maximize Use of Space Shuttle Components"), the ideas NASA has been considering for more than a year reach back to Apollo era concepts, and use derived versions of existing space shuttle hardware - all mixed with 21st century mission requirements and technology.

Space Tugs

One of the upper stage options under consideration includes a familiar concept from early in the space station program. According to study documents obtained by the authors, several configurations of shuttle-derived vehicles (SDV) include flight use of an Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV). OMVs are known by a more generic, common name: "space tugs".

The space tug concept goes back decades and was part of the original Space Station Freedom (SSF) program, which issued a contract to TRW to develop the reusable spacecraft. The original plan was to use the OMV to retrieve payloads and satellites such as the Hubble Space Telescope and bring them to SSF for repair work. The OMV was also to service a series of two free flying space platforms that were to accompany the manned station base.