Space Shuttle Component Reuse Study

The effects of maximum allowable uses and mission losses on space shuttle reusable-item inventory are analyzed. The approach was applied to preliminary trade-off studies of the solid rocket booster reusable components. Reuse reduces considerably the quantity of items required for 445 launches over an 11-year period. The effect of maximum allowable uses on the total number of items to be manufactured is highly nonlinear. The effect of mission cycle reliability is approximately linear. The trade-off analysis is illustrated by the example of rocket-motor case cylinder segments. The analysis is applicable to any reusable booster component.