Presented to Society of Automotive Engineers, Advanced Launch Vehicle & Propulsion Systems. When the Apollo lunar landing project is complete, the Saturn and Apollo hardware will only have begun to realize their ultimate potential for space exploration. The immense reserve of Apollo technology, facilities, and booster capability can then be directed to the achievement of national goals which lie far beyond the initial lunar landing. In achieving the Apollo lunar objectives, large investments will have been made in launch facilities, tracking systems, propulsion techniques, reentry systems, lunar landing systems and rendezvous technologies. Although developnent in these specialized areas has been tailored to the needs of Apollo, numerous studies by NASA and industry have demonstrated the feasibility of using the spacecraft, launch vehicles, and operating techniques for missions far more complex than lunar landings. Amortization of this hardware will prove cost-effective for missions of more sophisticated applications.
