a space tug *DELETED*

[jtkirk1701]

Post deleted by jtkirk1701

 

[gunsandrockets]

Your proposal seems a little vague. Does your system send cargo all the way from LEO to the surface of the moon, or just from LEO to lunar orbit? Is your system intended as a means of sending cargo to the moon, people to the moon, or both?<br /><br />I will assume your proposal is the one that is most ambitious, a manned lunar lander that could travel all the way from LEO to the lunar surface and back again. The short answer is yes, it could be done. The only way it could work is by using Nuclear Thermal Rocket propulsion instead of conventional chemical rockets.<br /><br />An even more efficient way to achieve the goal is with NTR propusion combined with Earth return aerobraking. The tug would use NTR to boost itself from LEO towards the moon, and then use a powered landing to touch down on the lunar surface. The tug would have enough fuel to lift off from the moon and send itself on a return trajectory back towards Earth. Once near Earth a combination of NTR thrust trajectory adjustments and aerobraking on the edge of the Earth's atmosphere would slow and settle the tug back into LEO. This is the simplest and most efficient way to get the job done. But the environmental interest groups would launch a jihad against the NTR propulsion especially when NTR is combined with Earth aerobraking.<br /><br />It's possible to still do the NTR tug without aerobraking but it then it would take twice as much propellent mass for the tug to send the same payload mass to the moon, which makes the tug twice as large and twice as expensive to operate. One possible way around this would be for the tug to refuel while on the surface of the moon from lunar derived materiels. This solution of course would add the complication of some kind of permanent moon base probably with it's own nuclear generator to power fuel production.<br /><br />If though one could refuel on the moon, the NTR tug really gets easy. Not only could you do away with aerobraking, the tug which refuels at both L

 

[john_316]

<br />Are we suggesting nuclear powered rockets for lunar activity? <br /><br />Chemical means might be better for that matter here.<br /><br />We still have to develop a way to mine or procure fuel from the lunar surface or subsurface yet to be self sufficient on the moon in some areas. <br /><br />

 

[le3119]

A robotic freighter would be ideal to haul large lunar modules for the outpost, and other machinery, leaving smaller lighter lunar "eagle" class landers to handle the human freight. Priority One, is build the lunar fuel refinery and start storing up a supply to fuel the return trips to LEO. <br /><br />Check out: http://americanantigravity.com/vanguard-orbital.shtml for a fresh idea about LEO - Lunar transfering.