The Analysis of energy-saving efficiency of “Lunar-Bus” Launch-Receive space platform

Paper number

IAC-09.A3.2INT.24

Author

Prof. Huifeng Li, Beihang University, China

Coauthor

Mr. zhenhai lin, China

Coauthor

Mr. Songbai Xue, China

Year

2009

Abstract

In the following hundreds of years, the exploration of the moon will become one of the most important human activities, and the travel between the earth and moon will be more and more frequent. How to achieve high efficiency, low power level and lower-cost transportation between the moon and earth, have been known as an important field of international space research. We have published a paper in the 59th IAC, and presented a new concept of space transportation system “Lunar-Bus”, which is a combination of “space tether system”, “energy storage system” and “transfer station system”. The platform is an huge space facility and runs in the LEO. It can both receive spacecraft, saving tremendous kinetic energy of spacecraft, and launch vehicle in-orbit, using the stored energy.

The purpose of this paper is to deeply discuss the platform’s energy-saving efficiency. From the important aspects focusing on energy consumption, this paper carries out quantitative analysis of energy consumption and gives a more comprehensive, reliable calculation result of energy efficiency. 

First of all, the paper summarizes the energy consumption of various types of lunar exploration vehicle, which Has been launched or is developing by Country around the world. The paper gives a quantitative analysis result of energy consumption, which come form launching lunar exploration craft From the Earth's surface. In accordance with the existing level, from the Earth's surface to the lunar surface, the payload weight ratio does not exceed 5\%. If the spacecraft required returning form the moon, the payload weight ratio does not exceed 1\%.

Secondly, the paper analyzes the energy-saving advantages of lunching and receiving spacecraft by using the space platform in detail. Launched at the space platform, spacecraft with high initial velocity can easily accelerate to the speed of the moon, which can reduce energy consumption. The enormous energy consumption caused by the atmosphere and earth's gravity can be avoided by launching the spacecrafts with the platform. The spacecrafts lunched from the LEO does not need to carry large amounts of refrigerant, and can greatly reduce the structural weight. For the spacecraft that travels between earth and moon, it will save a great deal of energy by decreasing the launch-weight because it won’t need the equipments such as re-entry capsule which launches from earth as usual. The craft returning form moon will be docked at the platform and do not need to re-entry into earth's atmosphere, so spacecraft can be re-used, and in result, the launch costs are further reduced.

Finally, by calculating the main aspects of energy consumption, the paper gives a preliminary result of energy–efficiency analysis of the platform: the platform running at LEO in long term can dramatically reduce the level of energy consumption to the current level of 5\%.

Abstract document

IAC-09.A3.2INT.24.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-09.A3.2INT.24.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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