Dr. O'Neill. As far as could be determined by a study group at the NASA Ames Laboratory, which addressed that question last summer, the chemical processing systems required are very similar to those which are already under development by the Bureau of Mines for ores which are quite similar to the lunar ores. So we believe there is nothing fundamentally new in that regard. But that does not mean that one does not have to study it hard and work on it. Senator Ford. Do we already know how to erect gigantic structures in space? I thought that was something we would learn once the Space Shuttles come in. Dr. O'Neill. I think that is absolutely right, sir. We need to get a lot of experience. When I say we don't need any basic new technology, I don't mean that we can go out tomorrow morning and write a purchase order and receive power satellites a short time later. There is a lot of work to be done. But what I mean is that we don't have to push the materials technology, temperature limits, and so on. Senator Ford. Scientists tell us—or tell me—that the Moon has a 14-day night. Where would you get the energy to power the mass driver on the Moon? Dr. O'Neill. The Marshall people and also the summer study last year at the Ames Laboratory have convinced me that we ought to use a relatively small-scale nuclear power plant on the Moon to power the mass driver during the lunar day as well as the lunar night. I think they can make a convincing case for it. Senator Ford. Do we have the necessary technology to build the size of turbogenerators for your proposal? I believe Boeing states that for Powersat we would need a turbogenerator that is six times as powerful as the biggest current turbogenerators. Dr. O'Neill. My understanding of the Boeing proposal, sir, is that they intend to use a number of small elements, because they are limited, in their case, to the capabilities of an individual launch vehicle. In the approach of building powerplants in space from lunar materials, one would be relaxed from that constraint and would, I think, simply build turbogenerators which were the best match to the known technology at the time. Senator Ford. How many rocket launchers will be necessary to support your plan, and will this present an environmental concern? Dr. O'Neill. The number of launchers, Senator, would be similar to the number that would be required to launch one power satellite, if one were to do so by Shuttle-derived vehicles. That is of the order of some hundreds of launches spaced over a period of about 5 or 6 years. So the environmental impact of that would be roughtly at the level of 1 percent of the environmental impact from ground launch of satellite power stations over a period, the corresponding 5 or 6 years. Senator Ford. You have recently testified before a House subcommittee—and I believe you stated that: A level of one-half to $1 million is probably adequate. To provide more at this time would probably result in some waste and inefficiency in the amount of moneys budgeted for this area. Do you still feel that this is all that is needed at this time?
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