| 摘要 |
A spacecraft or transfer vehicle for transportation of a payload from a space shuttle parking orbit to a higher operation orbit, wherein the transfer vehicle utilizes housekeeping subsystems integrated into the payload, to avoid unnecessary duplication of these subsystems, for such functions as power supply, guidance, control, and communications. The transfer vehicle disclosed includes a propulsion system with at least one low-thrust bipropellant liquid rocket engine, to provide a "soft" or low-acceleration ascent, and employs two tanking stages, each having four propellant tanks, arranged symmetrically in a circular configuration. The first stage of four tanks is jettisoned during ascent, and the second stage, including the remaining four tanks, the rocket engine, and related supporting structure, is separated from the payload when the operational orbit is reached.
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