Title :
The Lockheed Martin launch vehicle (LMLV) solution for small payloads
Author :
McCurry, James B. ; Carter, William P Trip
Author_Institution :
LMLV Mission Manage. Office, Lockheed Martin Astronaut., Denver, CO, USA
Abstract :
The development of a new family of launch vehicles by Lockheed Martin to support the current trend toward smaller, rapidly developed, cheaper spacecraft programs is described. An overview of the Lockheed Martin Launch Vehicle (LMLV) family of launch vehicles is provided, with specific discussion of the LMLV propulsion, avionics, structures, payload fairing options, and payload adapter and separation system options. LMLV´s use of Thiokol´s Star motors as injection stages is presented for mission requirements other than low Earth orbit. Typical launch environments at the spacecraft interface are identified, and the LMLV Program´s special attention to reducing launch operations costs is presented through a discussion of LMLV´s “stack-and-shoot” parallel-processing methodology; providing minimum interaction between the LMLV and spacecraft launch processing timelines. An overview of the standard LMLV launch services is presented, with discussion of the launch services flow, payload processing, and launch vehicle processing. Finally, the results of the first LMLV1 launch in August of 1995 are summarized, along with the current LMLV contract manifest
Keywords :
aerospace computing; aerospace control; aerospace propulsion; attitude control; avionics; rockets; special purpose computers; LMLV1 configuration; Lockheed Martin launch vehicle; Star motors; attitude control; avionics; cheaper spacecraft programs; costs reduction; guidance; injection stages; launch services flow; launch vehicle processing; mission requirements; modular design; payload adapter options; payload fairing options; propulsion; separation system options; small payloads; solid rocket motor main stages; stack-and-shoot parallel-processing methodology; storable liquid propulsion system; Aerospace electronics; Costs; Hardware; Low earth orbit satellites; Maintenance; Payloads; Propulsion; Reluctance motors; Scheduling; Space vehicles;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace Conference, 1997. Proceedings., IEEE
Conference_Location :
Snowmass at Aspen, CO
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3741-7
DOI :
10.1109/AERO.1997.574889