The Space Taxi™ Transportation System

This paper summarizes the results of recent studies by Orbital to significantly reduce NASA's future launch costs and improve crew safety through the implementation of a low-risk. evolutionary space transportation architecture. These studies were performed as a part of NASA's Space Transportation Architecture Studies (STAS) and subsequent internally-funded efforts. A large number of vehicles and architecture approaches win examined and evaluated. Orbital's recommended architecture includes a small, multifunctional vehicle, referred to as a Space Taxi(TM), which would serve as: an emergency crew return vehicle for thr International Space Station (ISS). a two-way human space transportation system, a small cargo delivery and return vehicle, and as a passenger module for a future Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). The Space Taxi(TM) would initially be launched on a heavy-lift Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV). currently under development by U.S. industry and the U.S. Air Force. Together with a small cargo carrier located behind the Space Taxi(TM), this combination of vehicles would be used to meet future ISS servicing requirements. Later, a two-stage, commercially developed RLV would replace the EELV in launching thr Space Taxi(TM) system at a significantly lower cost.