TABLE 8 APPROXIMATE MANUFACTURING SCALES* from the moon. The facility could be relatively small. Three different transport approaches have been suggested. These include electromagnetic mass drivers, rotary launchers, and chemical rockets (liquid and liquid-solid) using lunar-derived propellants (22, 27c, 31a, 75, 76). Small mobile excavation equipment could also assist in scientific investigations during off hours. Studies of surface mining of lunar soil and in situ beneficiation of the soils are available which incorporate post-Apollo lunar studies (27f, h, 31a, c). Estimates of equipment mass, power levels and consumables per unit of production are given in Table 8 for the general types of operations that can be expected. These numbers were “distilled” (with much approximating) from previous studies supported by NASA (27c-g; see also Ho and Sobon in 17). Soil would be received on the surface (chemical propulsion) or in space (for ejection systems) and delivered to LEO by an automatic carrier vehicle(s). The vehicle would use aerobraking to almost eliminate propulsion expenditure entering LEO from cis-lunar space. A portion of the lunar material would be made into propellants (LOX, metal powders, silanes with some terrestrial hydrogen) to send the cargo vehicle back for reloading near or on the moon. The cargo vehicle might be scaled to emplace the first dust supply system and to bring new equipment or even manned capsules to the lunar surface. They could also support considerable traffic out of the Earth-Moon system with minimal propellant uplift from Earth. There are many approaches. Whichever cargo/propulsion system is used should have these characteristics: • Lowest reasonable initial costs and low operating costs; • Quick to implement with a vigorous development program; • Minimal use of materials resources from Earth for operations (MM > 1); • Aerobraking; • Amenable to rapid growth either in numbers or scaling and flexible payload and delta-velocity capability.
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