Launch Vehicle Classification for Decision-Making of Small Satellite Launch Options

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the small satellite launch market. With the rapid development of novel launchers, for small satellite owners and operators, how to effectively and efficiently choose appropriate launch vehicles has become a major concern. Based on updated launch records, a reliable launch data source for multi-attribute evaluation and reclassification is established. Using a statistical classification process, active launch vehicles are classified into five representative-in-class launchers on the basis of their capabilities and performance. Unlike the previous categorisation based on payload ability, this method captures launch cost, technology maturity, reliability and availability of each category within the current launch vehicles in service. Moreover, representatives are selected as the baseline types for the high-level planning and designing of complex small satellite launch missions. The analysis indicates that this study provides a valid statistical classification and selection strategy of representative-in-class launch vehicles to support decision-making for rapid assessment on a large number of small satellite launch missions.