the commercialization of space transportation april 2007
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The Commercialization of Space Transportation
April 2007
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K-1 Reusable Space Transportation Vehicle
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NASA Near Term ISS Dilemma
International Space Station (“ISS”)
– Approximately $100 billion investment to date by NASA alone
– U.S. Government obligation to 16-partner countries to operate and provide cargo and crew transportation to and from ISS through 2015
– NASA currently uses the Space Shuttle to meet this obligation at a cost of approximately $1 billion per flight
– Space Shuttle to be retired in 2010 – irrevocable decision
– No other NASA capability to meet its commitment through 2015
Only near-term alternatives are Russian launch vehicles and foreign ATVs (European vehicle) and HTVs (Japanese vehicle)
– U.S. law prohibits use of Russian vehicles after 2011
– ATV and HTV extremely expensive
– None of these alternatives have the ability to return cargo to earth
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The Opportunity
1978 2004
2010
ISS OPPORTUNITY
1st Space Shuttle Flight
Decision to Retire Space
Shuttle in 2010
Space Shuttle Retires
Civil and Military Payload Launch
Commercial Satellite Delivery
Science and Technology
Research
COTS Program
RpK Key Advantages
Lower recurring costs and greater reliability than any other current ELV competitor
Rapid launch and re-launch capability due to reusable design
Positioned to be first-to-market with ISS re-supply capability
Return downmass transportation capabilities unlike competitors
NASA support
Led by an experienced management team and supported by its original world-class team of strategic partners
2022
Extend life of the ISS
2015Alternative NASA
Solution
Additional Revenue Opportunities
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NASA COTS Program OverviewNASA COTS Program
Two grant recipients, RpK and SpaceX, out of 20 competitors
RpK strengths identified by NASA include:
– Strong management team
– Design and technical maturity of the K-1
– Multiple market approach of the Company’s business plan
Space Act Agreement signed August 18, 2006 provides $207 million to RpK through 2009
– RpK retains nearly all intellectual property and commercial rights to technology (commercial program in which NASA does not end up owning the launch vehicle)
– NASA provides important resources and technical expertise to the K-1 Program
– NASA will be the Company’s largest customer
– COTS Program is critically important to NASA and its goals
RpK has successfully completed all NASA milestones to date and has received $32.1 million in milestone payments Latest Milestone: System Requirements Review
Met ahead of schedule and under budget
Successful completion of the NASA COTS Program will position RpK to win a commercial contract for ISS re-supply – a $1 billion annual opportunity
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K-1 Reusable Space Transportation Vehicle
Designed by Dr. George Mueller, designer of the Apollo and the Space Shuttle, to leverage existing technologies
Upmass capability: launch cargo and satellite payloads into space
Downmass capability: return cargo from both inside and outside Space Station to earth
Fully reusable: designed for 100 flight life – 9-day turnaround
Low-cost provider: starting at $30 million per launch, the K-1 costs significantly less expensive than any existing launch vehicle
To date, more than $650 million has been invested in design and development of the K-1 vehicle, which is 75% complete
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RpK Market Opportunities
Unique Fully Reusable Design Will Enable RpK to Successfully Penetrate Multiple Markets
First affordable, reusable rocket addressing these markets
ISS Re-Supply(NASA COTS)
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Science & Technology
Research
Commercial Satellite Delivery
Civil and Military Payload Launch
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K-1 Reusable Space Transportation Vehicle
Proven technologies adapted from other successful aerospace programs and applications reduce both development cost and technology risk
Use existing flight qualified components (e.g., main engines)
Designed with high factors of safety, including:
– Triple-string, fault tolerant avionics system ensure reliable performance flight after flight
– Integrated Vehicle Health Management (“IVHM”) systems automate and expedite checkout of the vehicle before and after each flight
Designed for reliability, each K-1 has an expected life of 100 flights – nine day turnaround
High launch rate and rapid turnaround significantly reduce the price of access to space
Key Design CharacteristicsCargo / Payload Module Length: 5.9 m
2nd Stage – Orbital Vehicle (“OV”) Length: 18.6 m Diameter: 4.3 m Weight: 131,800 kg
1st Stage – Launch Assist Platform (“LAP”)
Length: 18.3 m Diameter: 6.7 m Weight: 250,500 kg Approx. 5,700 kg delivered to LEO
Approx. 1,570 kg delivered to GTO Approx. 2,775 kg of cargo upmass and downmass
for ISS missions
Key Performance Metrics
The K-1 design is based on mature, proven technologies
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K-1: Systems Engineering
Overview
Systems engineering for reusable launch vehicles is dramatically greater than that of ELVs
Both design and verification for the K-1 completed
– Aerodynamics
– Load, dynamics, vibroacoustics
– Thermal
– Mass properties
– Timeline
Trajectory design reference missions completed
Vehicle schematics wiring and plumbing completed
Interface requirements specification completed
Cargo module currently undergoing Preliminary Design Review
RpK’s K-1 Essential Systems Engineering Tasks Are Complete
K-1 systems engineering is substantially complete
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K-1: Development Responsibilities and Status
Vehicle Exterior Structure• 21 of 23 Major Panels Complete
Parachutes• Engineering 90% Complete• Mains – Complete• Drogue – Complete• Stabilization – 95% Complete• Mortar – Complete• Drop Tests - Complete
OV RP Tank• 100% Design Complete• 35% Fabrication
OV LOX Tank• 100% Complete
Thermal Protection System• Overall Design Complete• Detailed Design – 30%• Arc Jet Testing Planned• Production at Restart
LAP LOX Tank• 100% Complete
LAP RP Tank• 100% RP Design Completed• 30% Fabrication Complete
LOX Retention Tank• 100% Design Complete• 75% Fabrication Complete
AJ-26 Engines• 37 Engines at Aerojet• Verification Engine in Test
Airbags• OV Fabrication 50% Complete• LAP Fabrication 50% Complete• ¼ Scale Drop Tests Complete• Airbag Inflation Tests Complete
Avionics Hardware• Vehicle Computer – Delivered• GPS /INS units – Delivered• TDRSS Receiver – Off the Shelf• FAA Transponder Delivered• SMU – In Manufacturing• PDU, MEC – In TestAvionics Software• GN&C Complete• Hardware in the Loop (HWIL) With Flight
Hardware / Software Testing
Final Assembly• Commenced 5/98• 1st Stage LOX Tank
Delivered 6/98
AJ-26 Engines• 9 Engines at Aerojet
OMS Engine• 40 Igniter Tests Complete• 29 Injector Tests Complete
Payload Module• 100% Structural Design
Complete• 25% Fabrication Complete
Launch Site• First Site in Australia• Contract Executed for Site Design and
Construction• Launch Site Design 100% complete• Environmental Approval Received• Launch Operation Contract Signed• Native Title Agreement Signed• Site Ground Breaking• Export License Approved• Second Site Planned in U.S.
The K-1 vehicle hardware is 75% complete
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K-1: Launch Operations
Launch Sites Overview
RpK plans to have two operational launch sites
First site in Spaceport Woomera, Australia
– Located in Woomera Test Range (“WTR”) in the South Australian outback
– Launch azimuth covers all addressable market / customer requirements from one site
– Contract executed for site design and construction
– Launch site design nearly 100% complete
– Environmental approval received
– Operations agreement signed
– Native title agreement signed
– Technical assistance agreement signed
45º(55º)
60º(33º)
99º(-14º)
84º(5º)
SpaceportWoomera
Latitude: 31º SouthLongitude: 137º EastElevation: 541 ft
Inclination(Azimuth)
45º(55º)
60º(33º)
99º(-14º)
84º(5º)
SpaceportWoomera
Latitude: 31º SouthLongitude: 137º EastElevation: 541 ft
Inclination(Azimuth)
K-1 launch site provides launch direction that meets customer requirements from one site
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K-1: ISS Mission Profile Overview
SPACEPORT WOOMERA: Woomera, S. Aust. 31o S Lat
Stage Separation
OV MECO
Coast Phase
OV Re-Entry
LAP & OV Deploy Parachutes and
Land at Launch Site using Airbags
OV MECO Altitude
OV De-Orbit Burn
LAP Flyback
OV Return Phasing Burn
Parachute Deployment Altitude
ISS Altitude
Phasing Altitude to ISS
K-1 Vehicle Liftoff
Mated with ISS/Separation Phasing Altitude to Ldg.
Event Time LAP Ignition 0:00:00 Stage Separation 0:02:20 OV Ignition 0:02:27 OV MECO 0:06:19 OV Mated with ISS 13:40:00
Event Time Crew Unloads Cargo Days 1-3 Crew Loads Completed Experiments
Days 4-5
Event Time OV Separation from ISS 0:00:00 OV Phases to Landing 0:45:00 OV De-Orbit Burn 1:30:00 OV Re-entry 2:15:00 OV Landing 2:30:00
Typical Event Sequence
Time in Hrs:Min:SecAssumes 5 day stay at ISS
Day 1 Days 1-5 @ ISS Day 6
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Looking To The Future
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K-1 Path to the Moon