Spacelift 2025

<p>The US spacelift system in 2025 focuses on routine operations. The research and development (RD) mentality of past spacelift programs is replaced by the aircraft-like operations of a fully reusable spacelift system operated by both commercial industry and a US Spacelift Wing. Though developed primarily as a practical and affordable alternative for orbital access the multipurpose transatmospheric vehicle (MTV) is expanded into force enhancing missions like intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) global mobility and strike. The MTV becomes the strategic strike platform of 2025. It can be flown manned or unmanned depending on mission requirements but it is primarily used in the unmanned mode. With the capability to efficiently accomplish the earth-to-orbit (ETO) mission as well as these other earth-to-earth (ETE) missions the MTV is a flexible platform which strengthens all air and space core competencies. The MTV is complemented by the orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) for space orbital missions. After MTVs park satellites in low orbits OTVs provide the additional thrust needed to push the payloads into higher energy orbits. OTVs also facilitate the maintenance of satellites in orbit by retrieving existing platforms for repair refueling or rearming. Finally OTVs give the spacelift system a rapid orbital sortie capability for deterrence space control reconnaissance counterspace and force application. This paper recommends Air Force support for NASA's X-33 transatmospheric reusability demonstration and investment in a follow-on military MTV and an initial OTV using today's technologies. Once routine operations are institutionalized with these first generation reusable systems propulsion and material technology should be infused to provide a more capable system. This paper recommends avid support of RD funding needed to provide these technological advances.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>