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A Market Study On The Viability Of Small Launch Firms, Allen George Dyer

Theses

As the United States only launch vehicle program NASA'~ Space Shuttle forced the shutdown of conventional launch vehicle operations . A system whose profitability depended on frequent use, but which, instead , incurred numerous launch delays, the Shuttle soon could not cover the cost of itself much less turn an profit. The French Ariane, albeit a simpler launch vehicle, soon successfully competed with the Shuttle for payloads.

The Reagan Administration, by various supportive measures, encouraged the market entrance of commercial launch firms . The Shuttle and Ariane, however, subsidized by their respective governments , set prices so artificially low that …