Recommendation
It is the recommendation of this paper that a private corporation, not under the control of any investing company’s board of directors, be formed for the sole mission of finishing the work started by McDonnell Douglas and the US Air Force. This company will complete the design of a full-scale, orbital DC-X single stage to orbit, reusable launch vehicle. The company will then provide launch services to NASA and the commercial launch industry. NASA will be a technology collaborator with the project, but will not have direct control over the progress of the project. Major investors to be sought include NASA and the major Aerospace corporations. These entities will be allowed to purchase non-voting shares in the company, allowing for a return on investment but prohibiting their culture from polluting the company spirit.
Two versions of the Delta Clipper will be designed initially. A light lift version will be built first. This version will be targeted towards lifting unmanned payloads to Low Earth Orbit. This will also be the vehicle used for any global package delivery service. The second version will be a heavy lift Delta Clipper with a modular payload bay. This payload arrangement will allow a manned cockpit module to be installed, along with a smaller amount of cargo. Future versions would include a Clipper modified for moon landings.
This company should be formed as soon as is feasible. Given the current state of the Shuttle Fleet (grounded following the Columbia incident), and the potential that is being unlocked with the ISS, the need for such a vehicle is substantial. Finally, the current level of technological progress in the Aerospace industry leaves no readily apparent reason why development and construction of the new Delta Clipper could not commence in the very near future.
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