Next Generation Launcher

Next Generation Launcher

Artist's rendering of Liberty rocket, on which NGL is based
Manufacturer	Orbital ATK
Country of origin	United States
Size
Height	59.84 m (196.33 ft)
Diameter	3.71 m (12.17 ft) First Stage 5.25 m (17.2 ft) Upper Stage
Stages	3
Capacity
Payload to GTO	5,500-8,500 kg (12,125-18,739 lb) (500 Series)
Payload to GEO	5,250-7,000 kg (11,574-15,432 lb) (500XL Series)
Associated rockets
Family	Shuttle-Derived Launch Vehicle Preceded by Liberty
Launch history
Status	Under Development
Launch sites	Kennedy LC-39B and Vandenberg SLC-2
Total launches	0
Successes	0
Failures	0
Partial failures	0
First flight	2021 (projected)
Boosters – GEM-63 or GEM-63XL
No. boosters	0 to 6
Diameter	1.6 m (63 in)
Specific impulse	279.3 seconds (2.739 km/s)
Fuel	HTPB
First stage
Engines	Castor 600 2-segment Shuttle-derived Solid Rocket Booster
Fuel	Solid
Second stage
Engines	Castor 300 1-segment Shuttle-derived Solid Rocket Booster
Fuel	Solid
Third stage
Engines	1 × BE-3U
Thrust	534 kN (120,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	>400 seconds (vacuum)
Burn time	unknown
Fuel	LOX/LH2

Next Generation Launcher is a launch vehicle concept proposed by Orbital ATK as an EELV replacement program intended for national security and commercial satellites.

Next Generation Launcher is similar to the defunct Ares I and Liberty projects, both of which consisted of a five segment Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) and a cryogenic second stage. Ares I would have combined a five-segment SRB with a J-2X powered second stage, while Liberty would have combine a five-segment SRB with the core stage of the European Ariane 5 as a second stage. By comparison, Next Generational Launcher consists of Space Shuttle-derived solid stages with a cryogenic upper stage provide by Blue Origin.^[1] It is intended to be launched from Kennedy Space Center LC-39B or Vandenberg Air Force Base SLC-2.^[2]

Next Generation Launcher is proposed as a vehicle to launch national security satellites for the United States Air Force, and could potentially launch other government and commercial payloads, including to Geostationary transfer orbit. Crewed spacecraft could also be launched, just as the predecessor Ares I and Liberty rockets, which were designed to launch the Orion space capsule.^[3]

History

The Orbital ATK's Logo

In January 2016, Orbital ATK was one of two companies awarded funds by the United States Air Force to develop technologies to eliminate dependency on the Russian-made RD-180 rocket engine.^[4] The award was worth an initial $46.9 million, with an option for up to $180.2 million total. This is to be matched by $31.1 million initially, and up to $124.8 million in company funds if all options of the contract are exercised. The contract will fund the development of three technologies in support of the Next Generation Launcher: the GEM-63XL strap-on booster, the Shuttle-derived Common Booster Core and an extendable nozzle for the BE-3U upper stage engine. A previous effort, funded by NASA, demonstrated the technology for a composite motor case for Shuttle-derived boosters to replace the metal motor cases used during the Space Shuttle program.^[5]

In May 2016, Orbital ATK revealed their plans for the Next Generation Launcher, including the configuration and the intended business case.^[2] In addition to relying on Shuttle-derived boosters, the Next Generation Launcher intends to make use of existing launch infrastructure at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), including the Vehicle Assembly Building used by the Space Shuttle, with the possibility of polar orbit launches occurring from Vandenberg Air Force Base. NASA began looking for commercial users to operate unused space within the Vehicle Assembly Building in June 2015, and by April 2016, it was announced that Orbital ATK was in negotiations to lease High Bay 2.^[6] Orbital ATK claimed that a minimum of 5-6 launches per year would be required to make the rocket profitable. Full development and introduction will be dependent on both demand and funding from the US Air Force. A final "go/no-go decision" to proceed with full development and introduction of the Next Generation Launcher is planned to take place between late 2017 and early 2018.^[7]

In April 2017, Orbital ATK revealed that NGL would be launched from pad 39B at KSC, sharing launch facilities and mobile transporter with the NASA Space Launch System (SLS). NGL would compete for USAF national security launches and NASA missions. There would be multiple configurations of the launch system, with multiple stages. The basic configuration of four-segment solid rocket booster (SRB) with cryogenic upper stage, expands to baseline configuration of 2-segment first stage solid booster, with a 2-segment second stage solid booster, and third stage cryogenic booster. Also a heavy configuration adds a 4-segment first stage replacing the 2-segment booster of the baseline version. Additional versions are projected to add additional SRBs as side boosters. The SDLV SRBs are to share avionics suites with other Orbital ATK rockets to reduce costs, and make cheaper SRBs by replacing the Shuttle-era steel casings with composite casings. Additional savings may be realized by homologating the SLS SRBs with NGL, replacing SLS' steel-cased SRBs with composite ones.^[8]

References

External links

• Liberty official web site

See also

• Ares I, a proposed Constellation program rocket based on an SDLV SRB-derived first stage and a Saturn V-derived J2-X based second stage
• Liberty (rocket), a proposed rocket based on an SDLV SRB-derived first stage and Ares-derived J2-X based second stage