Since the trip from low earth orbit to L2 takes 5 months, it will be assumed the trip of the solar power satellites from L2 to geosynchronous orbit takes 5 months also, though it would actually take less time. 9. The first lunar transfer vehicle flight carries the four men to the moon, together with the first lunar manufacturing facility and equipment for later generations of the lunar manufacturing facility. 10. Oxygen propellant for the lunar transfer vehicle is provided by the lunar manufacturing facility, beginning at the second launch from the moon. The mass of hydrogen required for the lunar transfer vehicle is based on the total fuel required and the ratio of 91 t H2 to 546 t O2 of SP-428 [18], 11. The space manufacturing facility is at L2, attached to the mass catcher, to allow immediate access to lunar soil. S.S.I. does not give the location of the space manufacturing facility, and in SP-428 it is arbitrarily positioned in a two day earth orbit [19], In the plan given here, it is positioned at the mass catcher to avoid delays in manufacturing at the space manufacturing facility, both initially, and later, during space manufacturing facility expansion. These delays would be caused by the time required to transport lunar soil between L2 and the space manufacturing facility. 12. All equipment for one mass driver reaction engine, the first space manufacturing facility and lunar manufacturing facility, the external tank powderer, the lunar transfer vehicle, orbital transfer vehicle, and the mass catcher, are constructed on earth. 13. Material is launched from the moon to the mass catcher by an electromagnetic mass driver which is part of the lunar manufacturing facility. Each lunar manufacturing facility copy can launch 2350 t/yr. of lunar material to the mass catcher. The lunar soil is launched at this rate both while the lunar manufacturing facility is self-reproducing and when the lunar manufacturing facilities are complete [20], 14. 30 shuttle flights per year are available to the program. From SP-428, the shuttle fleet of 5 vehicles planned then was capable of providing 30 launches every 6 months [21]. The number of shuttles which will actually be built has been reduced to 4, and on this basis they could provide However, the maximum rate of shuttle use now planned by NASA is 18 per year [22] so 48 - 18 = 30 flights/yr. are available.
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