Costs and benefits of a space-colonization program, based on conservatively high estimates for costs (178 Billion Dollars over 14 years) plus interest rates (10%). Cost estimates assume only shuttle-derived lift vehicles. A six-year construction time for the first community, and a two-year replication time thereafter, are assumed, with a productivity of two satellite power stations per colony per year after initial startup. By the 13th year, power plant capacity so produced would meet U. S. needs. In this scenario the benefit/cost ratio, including all construction, development and interest charges, would exceed 2.7. Power costs, initially 15 mils/Kwh, would be reduced in steps to achieve market penetration. Revenue would be obtained only from the sale of energy, not of power stations. Figure 1
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