production, or additional self-reproduction, so no more material is brought from earth. In particular, the solar power satellites are made entirely of lunar materials. The construction rate will be assumed the same as for the solar power satellites for all other equipment, with the exception of additional copies of the manufacturing facilities. The rates of construction of additional copies of the manufacturing facilities can be derived from assumptions above. The rate of construction for other equipment by the space manufacturing facility is 33. The cost of research is $10^/t for the most expensive equipment. For less expensive equipment, research cost is included in construction cost. 34. The mass of equipment for which this research is performed is derived on the basis that in S.S.I., 15 t was researched out of 107 t total mass of equipment considered. It will be assumed that the same proportion applies for this extended plan, 15 t/ 1071 = 0.14 . Equipment which will be included in the corresponding total mass here consists of the mass driver reaction engine, the manufacturing facilities, and the orbital transfer vehicle and lunar transfer vehicle. Since the mass catcher and tank powderer are simpler than these, and the large mass driver reaction engines are larger copies of the mass driver reaction engine, their costs of research are assumed low enough to be included in construction cost. The mass of the objects which includes intensively researched components is and the mass researched is 0.14 • 292 t = 40.9 t. 35. The cost of construction of equipment on earth is $ 107/t. This is based on a cost per shuttle of $10$ and empty shuttle mass 100 t; however, because the cost of a shuttle may increase to $1.5x10’, this figure may have to be increased 50%. Because of the simplicity of the mass catcher, its construction cost may be lower, so it will be assumed that this counteracts any increased construction cost.
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