for payload are required. Since this is less than the number of flights required to provide reaction mass by 100 - 87 = 13, tanks from flights for purposes other than this plan are required. Since there are at least 10 tanks per year available from flights for other purposes, these tanks can be provided in from the time their collection begins. Collection of these tanks begins at the same time as the launch of payload begins. Let months be numbered starting from the first shuttle launch of payload, and events take place at the beginning of months unless otherwise specified. As will be shown, the first mass driver reaction engine departure from low earth orbit is at month 21, so all of the additional tanks are provided before the mass driver reaction engine leaves low earth orbit. All this is carried by the shuttle; the remaining payloads for the shuttle are
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