Orbital Transfer Vehicle - an Overview: Presented at the 'Future Space Transportation Systems Symposium' organized by the British Interplanetary Society June 1980.

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A summary is presented of the concept definition phase of the NASA Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) programme. The mission requirements are threefold: (1) the ability to deliver payloads well beyond the capability of any current system at low acceleration levels, (2) the extension of the cost effectiveness from reusability and operational flexibility provided by the Space Shuttle at LEO to the geosynchronous altitude, and (3) the provision of the round trip capability needed to service and maintain this expanded and more valuable resource at GEO. The initial Shuttle-matched, reusable OTV is shown to be cost effective with low development cost, relatively short development period and high projected reliability. The performance enhancement provided by aero-assist is discussed, which will enable the difficult round trip to be flown in a single Shuttle launch. Two methods of reducing vehicle velocity are available: (1) aero-assist aeromaneuvering which uses vehicle lift to climb or descend and thereby correct for density variations, and (2) aerobraking which varies vehicle drag directly to correct for density.

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