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Applications of Earth orbital platforms like communication satellites have already achieved a commercial value in their own right. Other Earth centered operations like weather satellites offer the possibility of a commercial status since they affect our daily lives by supplying information on the state of nature around us. We, therefore, feel justified in assuming that a solid basis for expansion of Earth-orbital operations exists. Present projections of manned and unmanned orbital launch requirements indicate that more economic means of space transportation will be needed. Starting from our present day hardware, the key question is, should we simplify or sophisticate our vehicle concepts? The paper addresses the two following problem areas: 1.