operations and highest payoff factor. The fact that a launcher sited for launch to low Earth orbit would be of relatively little value for any other destination would have to be an important consideration for actual programme decisions. The unit cost of materials delivered to a space location is defined as C=(cost of lunar operations)/(throughput) + (unit cost of transport)/(payback factor). This equation recognizes that some transport from Earth may be required in the lunar materials scenario. For example, if lunar oxygen is to be delivered to low Earth orbit, hydrogen to run the operation must be launched from Earth, assuming no usable hydrogen on the Moon. Let T be throughput (net delivery of usable lunar material) in tons per year, PF be payoff factor, and CT be cost of transport from Earth to low Earth orbit. The cost of transport without lunar resources is CTbt T where b) is a multiplier (burden factor) for (mass delivered to low Earth orbit)/(mass delivered to destination). The cost with lunar resources is CrFb2 + CTT'bl, where T is mass delivered to the Moon to support the operation, T" is residual mass delivered to the destination from Earth, and b2 is the burden factor for delivery to the Moon. The payoff factor is the ratio of destination costs,
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