A modest habitation facility in low earth orbit
- Paper ID
IAF-81-40
- author
- company
Taylor & Associates, inc;
- country
U.S.A.
- year
1981
- abstract
This paper describes an External Tank-derived orbital facility. The facility is commercial in nature and open to participation by international organizations. The External Tank attains 99% of full orbital velocity prior to being jettisoned into the ocean. This energy is invested in the ET whether the tank is utilized in orbit or not. This concept uses this invested energy along with two other ideas to produce an economical approach to a facility in Low Earth Orbit. The interior habitation volume in the ET Aft Unit is described in detail. Eighteen orbital revenue operations are suggested to capitalize on advantages offered by the External Tank concept.