Shuttle-Derived Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle, Orbit Insertion

The Shuttle-Derived Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle, also known as HLV, was a forward-thinking proposal that emerged from the NASA Constellation program. Unveiled to the Augustine Commission on 17th June 2009, it was rooted in the Shuttle-C concept, a subject of various exploratory studies since the 1980s. The HLV was an evolution of the Shuttle-Derived Launch Vehicle (SDLV), which aimed to enhance its performance by replacing the winged orbiter with a side-mounted payload carrier, while retaining the Space Shuttle’s External Tank and four-segment Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters. As a result of this modification, the Shuttle-Derived Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle held immense potential, capable of accommodating a vast array of exploration missions, including lunar missions with the use of a CEV launcher. It leveraged the existing STS configuration and infrastructure, transforming the reusable Shuttle orbiter into an expendable payload carrier, thus streamlining the launching process. Full Video #shorts