Small Low Cost Lunar Missions using the Falcon 1 Enhanced Launch Vehicle

Paper number

IAC-08.D2.4.1

Author

Mr. Jonathan Hofeller, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), United States

Year

2008

Abstract

SpaceX has proven its ability to bring concepts from Imagination to Reality in a short period of time and is currently revolutionizing access to Low Earth Orbit.  Building upon the success of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle, SpaceX has announced its next challenge - an enhanced version, dubbed Falcon 1E that, in addition to greater performance to LEO, provides an optimal low cost capability for lunar missions thereby enabling commercial opportunities on the moon.
 
Using the full thrust from the M1 engine, the Falcon 1E will be upgraded with an elongated aluminum-lithium first stage tank and an enlarged fairing.  Just as SpaceX has opened the LEO launch market, this new Falcon 1E vehicle will provide lunar-focused entrepreneurial companies the opportunity to reasonably explore businesses utilizing the moon’s resources.  The quest for water, power, communication, and human sustainability knowledge can be satisfied well in advance of larger manned missions with robotic landers and remote sensing orbiters.    When combined with a solid kick motor, the Falcon 1E can put roughly 200 kg into a trans-lunar trajectory and with this new, reliable, low cost vehicle, these lunar missions could be conducted at a fraction of the cost of traditional missions. 
 
The Google Lunar X-Prize has attracted teams from around the world, each vying for the prize that will to get their lunar business off the ground.  As the preferred launch vehicle provider, SpaceX offers a discount on its Falcon 1E launch vehicles which will rapidly become the key enabler for several of these lunar architectures.  Beginning in 2010 this vehicle becomes available to pave a lunar roadway and once established, this could become a regular SpaceX service.  Collaboration with lunar landing technologies, alternative and electric propulsion kick and breaking stages, and lunar rover exploration teams is encouraged and presentation of the Falcon 1E performance and its lunar capabilities will stimulate discussion on the multiple ways to utilize this new tool to spur the development of cis-lunar commerce.  



Finally, SpaceX has assured financing to cover travel and attendance fees for all selected papers. 

Abstract document

IAC-08.D2.4.1.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.D2.4.1.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.