Advanced Launch System: Difference between revisions

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The '''Advanced Launch System''' (ALS) is a joint [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) and [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA) study which operated from 1987 to 1990. Its aim was to develop a flexible, modular, heavy-lift, high rate space [[launch vehicle]] that could deliver [[payload]]s to Earth [[orbit]] at a tenth the cost of existing [[solid rocket booster|boosters]].

==BackgroundThe program==

The '''ALS''' was a joint USAF and NASA study from 1987 to 1990. Itthat wasbegan an endeavour ofduring the years following the [[Space Shuttle Challengerpost-challenger disaster]]period. Colonel John R. Wormington (retiredBrig. Brigadier GeneralGen., USAF, Ret.) was assigned as Program Director of the Joint Department of Defense and NASA Advanced Launch System Program Office., Lieutenantlocated Colonelat Los Angeles, CA AFB (Air Force Base); Lt Col Michael C. Mushala (retiredMaj. Major GeneralGen., USAF, Ret.) was assigned as his Deputy. TheProgram programDirector. office was located at the [[Los Angeles Air Force Base]].

Mushala was promoted to Colonel in October 1989 and became Program Director when Wormington was reassigned as commander of the Eastern Space and Missile Center, Patrick AFB, FL in February 1990. Mushala closed out the program, and the System Program Office (SPO) was disbanded in July 1990. With the remaining propulsion development efforts being managed by NASA alone. Although the project had a projected [[Research_and_development|R&D]] cost of $15 billion, its early cancellation led to a final cost slightly under $3 billion.