Information AboutEvolved Expendable Launch Vehicle |
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The United States Government –sponsored Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle ( EELV ) program was intended to develop affordable alternatives to legacy medium-to-heavy-lift launch vehicles (e.g. Titan , Delta III ). The program resulted in the development of two vehicles: The program supported two fully independent design efforts to ensure that any future design, manufacturing, or supply problems would not jeopardize the U.S.’ heavy-lift access to space. It was presumed that the commercial launch market would support two new vehicles, but demand in the first half of the 2000 s has been lower than expected, due to the downturn in the commercial spacecraft market during that time, and a perceived trend toward smaller spacecraft. If market conditions do not improve, the Department Of Defense may eliminate one of the EELV competitors in 2010 . COMMON CORE BOOSTER The program called for the develepoment of a modular Common Core Booster Liquid Fuel first stage that can be used alone (possibly with strap-on Solid Rocket Booster s) or a configuration of three CCBs tied together. The Delta CCB is in fact called the ''Common Booster Core'' (CBC). Furture upgrade options for the Delta IV include a configuration of seven CBCs. |
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