From Earth to Orbit -- Copyright -- Preface -- Contents -- Summary of Key Findings and Recommendations -- LAUNCH VEHICLES AND INFRASTRUCTURE -- PROPULSION -- TECHNOLOGY -- Terms, Acronyms, and Abbreviations -- 1 Introduction -- THE TASK -- APPROACH -- ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT -- NATIONAL POLICY CONSIDERATIONS -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- 2 A Path to a Desirable National Space Launch System -- SUPPORT FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ATTRIBUTES -- LAUNCH VEHICLE AND PAYLOAD ATTRIBUTES -- ENGINE ATTRIBUTES -- 3 Projected Launch Requirements -- NEAR-TERM REQUIREMENTS -- INTERMEDIATE-TERM REQUIREMENTS -- LONG-TERM REQUIREMENTS -- 4 Launch Vehicle Options -- CURRENT U.S. EXPENDABLE LAUNCH SYSTEMS -- PROPOSED U.S. LAUNCH SYSTEMS -- National Launch System (NLS) -- Taurus -- Medium Launch Vehicle III (MLV III) -- CURRENT U.S. MANNED SYSTEMS -- The Space Shuttle -- PROPOSED U.S. MANNED SYSTEMS -- The Single-Stage Rocket Technology Program Delta Clipper (DC-Y) -- National Aero-Space Plane -- Assured Crew Return Capability -- EXISTING INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH SYSTEMS -- Energia -- Zenit -- Ariane -- PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH SYSTEMS -- Ariane-5/Hermes -- Hotol -- Sanger -- 5 Propulsion Capabilities for Earth-to-Orbit Vehicles -- HISTORY OF LIQUID AND SOLID PROPULSION -- FLIGHT-PROVEN U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL ENGINES AND MOTORS -- Flight-Proven U.S. Engines and Motors -- F-1 and J-2 Engines -- MA-5 and RS-27 Engines -- LR-87 and LR-91 Engines -- RL10 Engine -- Space Shuttle Main Engine -- Ballistic Missile Solid Motors -- Redesigned Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) -- Flight-Proven International Engines and Motors -- RD-170 Engine -- RD-253 Engine -- Viking and Other Engines -- PROPOSED U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL ENGINES AND MOTORS -- Proposed U.S. Engines and Motors -- Space Transportation Main Engine (STME) -- Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM) -- Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade (SRMU).

Proposed International Engines and Motors -- ENGINE AND MOTOR TESTING -- System Reliability and Tests -- Propulsion Test Facilities -- Government-Owned Test Facilities -- Industrial Test Facilities -- ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL PROPULSION -- PRIORITIES FOR INVESTMENT -- Space Transportation Main Engine -- Space Shuttle Propulsion Systems -- PRIORITIES FOR LONGER-TERM PAYOFF -- Engines -- Booster Stages -- 6 Technology Development -- PROPULSION TECHNOLOGIES -- Hybrids -- Modular Plug Engine -- Modular Bell Engine -- Virtual Staging Engine Concepts -- Nuclear Propulsion and Power -- COMPONENT AND GENERAL TECHNOLOGIES -- Materials Technologies -- Health Monitoring of Rocket Systems -- Connectors and Interfaces for Fuel and Electrical Systems -- Guidance, Navigation, Control, and Autodocking -- Launch Operation Technology Needs -- Manufacturing Technologies -- CONCLUSION -- Biographical Sketches of Committee Members -- Appendix A AN APPROACH TO SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE -- DEFICIENCIES OF CURRENT SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM AND INFRASTRUCTURE -- Lack of Flexibility of the Launch System -- Lack of Resilience of the Launch System -- Scheduling Difficulties in the Launch System -- Shortage of Land for Construction of Launch Facilities -- DESCRIPTION OF RECOMMENDED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS -- General -- Launch Complex Philosophy -- Launch Complex Elements -- Conceptual Launch Complex -- Appendix B LIST OF PARTICIPANTS -- Appendix C BIBLIOGRAPHY.