of reaction mass. Since the payload is less than the 800 t mass driver reaction engine minimum capacity, less time or reaction mass would be required, but these figures will be used here. The 23 space shuttle flights provide reaction mass, which is inadequate. 10 tanks per year from flights which carry payload for purposes other than this plan are available to supply reaction mass, yielding of reaction mass from this source. Since 1050 t - 805 t = 245 t of exhaust mass are required from this source, it takes to provide this reaction mass. Since there are 30 shuttle flights per year available for the payload for this plan, it takes to launch the payload for this flight. Thus month 0 will be defined as the point at which launch of payload for this plan begins. Collection of tanks from shuttle flights for purposes other than this plan begins at month 1, and is complete at month 10, when the mass driver reaction engine leaves low earth orbit. It arrives at L2 at month 10 + 5 = 15, and at lunar orbit at month 16. The lunar and space manufacturing facilities thus begin operation at month 16. The space manufacturing facility is the last of the manufacturing facilities to be completed, and requires 25 months between first operation and completion, as before. Also as before, the first solar power satellite reaches geosynchronous orbit 20 months after this, at month 16 + 25 + 20 = 61 = 5 yr., 1 mo. Equipment on which intensive research is performed is
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