A low cost rocket booster could benefit all segments of the space launch industry, including manned spacecraft, scientific payloads, commercial satellites, military payloads, and sounding rockets. The proposed booster not only has the advantage of low purchase cost, but it also has the advantage of simplicity of operation, resulting in improved reliability, safety, and launch readiness. Future versions of the low cost booster are expected to be scaleable to very large sizes, enabling heavy lift launch vehicles that are needed for large payloads, space construction projects and manned exploration missions beyond LEO.
Suborbital sounding rockets for scientific research is likely to be one of the first applications for the proposed low cost booster. Recently, private space missions have been increasing in frequency and variety, and the proposed low cost booster concept directly addresses the needs of these private enterprises: low-cost, high reliability, reusability, safety and readily available raw materials and propellants.
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