LUNAR SPACE ELEVATORS FOR CISLUNAR SPACE DEVELOPMENT (original) (raw)
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The Lunar Space Elevator, a Near Term Means to Reduce Cost of Lunar Access
A Lunar Space Elevator [LSE] can be built today from existing commercial polymers; manufactured, launched and deployed for less than $2B. A prototype weighing 48 tons with 100 kg payload can be launched by 3 Falcon-Heavy's, and will pay for itself in 53 sample return cycles within one month. It reduces the cost of soft landing on the Moon at least threefold, and sample return cost at least ninefold. Many benefits would arise. A near side LSE can enable valuable science mission, as well as mine valuable resources and ship to market in cislunar space, LEO and Earth's surface. A far-side LSE can facilitate construction and operation of a super sensitive radio astronomy facility shielded from terrestrial interference by the Moon. The LSE would facilitate substantial acceleration of human expansion beyond LEO.
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Scientific Return of a Lunar Elevator
The concept of a space elevator dates back to Tsilokovsky, but they are not commonly considered in near-term plans for space exploration, perhaps because a terrestrial elevator would not be possible without considerable improvements in tether material. A Lunar Space Elevator (LSE), however, can be built with current technology using commercially available tether polymers. This paper considers missions leading to infrastructure capable of shortening the time, lowering the cost and enhancing the capabilities of robotic and human explorers. These missions use planetary scale tethers, strings many thousands of kilometers long stabilized either by rotation or by gravitational gradients. These systems promise major reduction in transport costs versus chemical rockets, in a rapid timeframe, for a modest investment. Science will thus benefit as well as commercial activities.
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Space Elevators: A Feasible Solution for Sending People and Goods into Space More Cost Effectively
— The Present study focuses on the fascinating concept of Space Elevators. Object of this study is to get introduced with every aspect in Designing, Working & Construction of Space Elevators. It " s a concept in which tether is used to uplift any type of cargo or personnel from Earth surface to an orbit in space. Such invention not only becomes the new path for heavy loads to get into space but also becomes a cheap one. Also from the top of it, loads can be launch in any desired direction. By this not only the cost of the launch through rocket gets reduced but also the personnel handling this launch i.e. reduction of human error too. Perfect suitable material for such operation is Carbon Nano-tube which hundred times stronger and ten times lighter then Steel. In coming 50 years, it might be possible that many space elevators are ready to launch the spacecraft in space. Its application is not just only limited to the launching but also it can help in carrying heavy payloads to International Space Stations. It simply can give access to space for scientific, commercial & military purposes.
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Advocates of the space elevator predict a drastic reduction of space transportation cost and the possibility to transport large payload masses and volumes into space. A more detailed assessment of the effects from this space transportation system on the design of spacecrafts is still missing. The space segment, including spacecrafts, is the first element of the space economy value chain. An improvement in this area may lead to an increased value flow and lower cost. From relevant attributes, which distinguish a space elevator from conventional launch systems from a customer perspective, possible implications for spacecraft design and consequences for the space economy are derived. Preconditions for profiting from the full range of benefits are identified. It is shown that a realization of this novel transportation system would rather gradually change the situation of the space economy, until it has proven its reliability and advantages to potential investors.
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