Ground and launch systems processing technologies to reduce overall mission life cycle cost

This paper describes ground and launch systems processing technologies that will extend and sustain the human presence and activities in space by reducing the overall mission life cycle cost for transportation to, from, and on planetary bodies. The NASA Strategic Space Technology Investment Plan (SSTIP) identified the need for improvements in launch ground systems to help missions run more efficiently and affordably, which will enable NASA to meet its mission within the strained budget environment.