platform, and ion thruster modules at the four comers of the vehicle (Isp = 8000 s 200 MW power or 220 W/kg for specific mass). Major (costly) technology advances are required to develop the EOTV, including: fabrication and assembly in LEO, solar cells technology, large structure management. These issues are very similar to those associated to the solar power satellite itself. Figure 8.13 Cargo Electric OTV. The Personnel Orbit Transfer Vehicle £POTV) is shown in Figure 8.14. It is a single stage vehicle designed to transport personnel and priority cargo (up to 90 metric tons) from LEO to GEO. Propulsion is provided by five LOX/LH2 90,000 Newton thrust staged-combustion engines (SSME technology) that would operate at an Isp of 470 seconds. Refueling propellant in GEO would be provided by the EOTV. Storage of cryogenic propellants during the EOTV mission to GEO (180 days) and relatively high propellant mass fraction of the POTV (0.94) are critical technical issues for this concept.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==