The lunar mass transport problem in space colonization

Details The lunar mass transport problem in space colonization The lunar mass transport problem in space colonization

Sep 1977

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1977aiaa.confz....h&link_type=abstract

American Astronautical Society and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Jack

Mathematics

Logic

Space Colonies, Space Transportation, Technological Forecasting, Trajectory Analysis, Extraterrestrial Resources, Libration, Orbital Elements, Space Commercialization

Scientific paper

This paper presents a description of new insights and approaches which have recently been developed, in association with the problem of large-scale transport of lunar material to a space colony. The concept of achromatic trajectories is presented, and is used to motivate the main features of the problem of operationally using a mass-driver and mass-catcher, where the latter is near the L2 libration point. Considerations of trajectories originating at L2 serve to provide a rationale for selection of the optimal colony orbit as being one in 2:1 resonance with the moon. On the basis of these theoretical developments, an operational mass-transport system is described. It consists of an optimally-sited mass-driver with downrange fine-correction for payloads; a mass-catcher the engineering parameters of which are described, and a terminal tug which retrieves 100,000 ton cargoes of lunar material, near the colony. This tug also injects packaged catcher consumables into a trajectory whereby they can rendezvous with the catcher, so that the latter's operation is autonomous.

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