Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle - Human-rating

Human-rating

In 2009 The Aerospace Corporation reported to NASA results of study intended to determine the feasibility of modifying an EELV to be human-rated for use in NASA human spaceflight missions. According to Aviation Week the study, "found that a Delta IV heavy could meet NASA's requirements for getting humans to low Earth orbit." In a presentation to the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, an Aerospace Corporation representative presented a summary of the study. The summary asserts that even without a newly developed upper stage, it would be feasible for a human-rated Delta IV Heavy to launch a crewed Orion spacecraft to the International Space Station. ULA has since published a paper detailing the changes needed for man-rating EELVs. On February 2, 2010 NASA awarded ULA $6.7 million in stimulus funds under the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program. A Space Act Agreement was set up to develop an Emergency Detection System (EDS) that could be used on both EELVs. An EDS monitors critical launch vehicle and spacecraft systems and issues status, warning and abort commands to the crew during their mission to low Earth orbit.