Date of Award

3-2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Operational Sciences

First Advisor

Alan W. Johnson, PhD

Abstract

The Air Force uses a family of expendable launch vehicles to meet its spacelift needs. Unfortunately, this method is not responsive: months of preparation are typically required and launch costs are high. Consequently, the Air Force seeks a reusable military launch vehicle that can be launched inexpensively and quickly regenerated between flights. Air Force Research Laboratory personnel desire a tool to help evaluate candidate designs and perform tradeoff studies necessary to acquire a launch vehicle that will achieve Air Force goals. The objective of this research was first to develop a conceptual model of maintenance operations needed to regenerate a launch vehicle between flights, and then to translate this conceptual model into a discrete event simulation tool. This research was accomplished concurrently with Stiegelmeier, who focused on vehicle prelaunch operations.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GLM-ENS-06-14

DTIC Accession Number

ADA446392

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