Solar Power Satellites Built Of Lunar Materials
Final SRA Report For SSI
- Release year: 1985
- Pages: 107
Coordinating Organizations:
- Space Research Associates, Inc
- Space Studies Institute
Contributors:
Adam Bruckner, Carl Case, Paul DuBose, Dani Eder, Scott Finfrock, Steve Gillett, Donald G Hervey, Hugh M Kelso, Art Lapella, Beth Means, Joel Sercel, Amjad Shariatmadar, Brian Tillotson, Steve Weiss, Gordon R Woodcock
Abstract/Description:
This document is the final report of Space Research Associates' SPS design study emphasizing minimal use of Earth-supplied mass to achieve low cost. The study objective was to provide a basis for comparison of alternative SPS concepts and subsystems in the context of lunar material utilization.
High cost has been a major obstacle to development of a Solar Power Satellite (SPS) system. A major part of this cost is the expense of transporting material from Earth to geosynchronous orbit (GEO). The energy required to transport lunar material to GEO is less than 8% of that for Earth material. In addition, launch from the Moon should be more efficient than launch from Earth due to low lunar gravity and the effective lack of lunar atmosphere. Thus, the cost of delivering materials from the Moon to GEO might be about one-fifteenth the cost to deliver equivalent materials from Earth.
High cost has been a major obstacle to development of a Solar Power Satellite (SPS) system. A major part of this cost is the expense of transporting material from Earth to geosynchronous orbit (GEO). The energy required to transport lunar material to GEO is less than 8% of that for Earth material. In addition, launch from the Moon should be more efficient than launch from Earth due to low lunar gravity and the effective lack of lunar atmosphere. Thus, the cost of delivering materials from the Moon to GEO might be about one-fifteenth the cost to deliver equivalent materials from Earth.
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