A Case Study for a Lunar Base Supporting a LEO Propellant Depot
- Paper number
IAC-18,D4,5,4,x47739
- Author
Mrs. Emeline De Antonio, France, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)
- Coauthor
Mr. Roger X. Lenard, United States, LPS
- Year
2018
- Abstract
There exists increasing evidence that a market for a propellant depot in Low Earth Orbit could become a realistic, financially viable option. Recently, at a cis-lunar marketplace held in Centennial, CO, the United Launch Alliance announced that it was willing to pay for propellant in LEO. Prices in LEO were stated to be bid in a range between $3,000/kg and $7,000/kg. Propellant in Lunar Orbit was bid at $1,000/kg. In this study, the authors utilize prior work on a combined lunar excavator/LEO propellant depot based on debt financing. That study employed the latest data for the composition of minerals in the Permanently Shadowed Regions of the Moon. The impact data from the LCROSS experiment indicated there were volatiles with ~9% material useful for LOX-LH2 propellant production and that the low ~9% yield resulted in a large amount of material being excavated and transported to Lunar Orbit. This study analyzes the implications a permanent lunar base with a mission of extracting lunar volatiles from PSR regolith to an equatorial base. The presumption is that the base is established for exploration purposes but would provide funds for continued base financial viability. The base would extract the volatiles and prepare them for intercept and transport to the lunar excavator once the volatiles have been extracted from the regolith. The bespoke lunar excavator would extract the lunar regolith from the PSRs, transport it to the equatorial base. The material would be transported to the lunar excavator orbital station at a fraction of the overall transported mass envisioned in the original analysis. The question is whether or not transporting ~ 1/11th of the mass to Lunar Orbit, enhancing production rates would be cost beneficial over the costs associated with transporting all the material to Lunar Orbit and beneficiating it in lunar orbit versus transporting the finished product. This study analyzes the potential that a commercial propellant feedstock extraction capability comparing costs and risks of performing extraction with the orbiting lunar excavator, transporting it to a lunar base, extracting volatiles and packaging them for transport to the lunar excavator. Such architecture would enhance the commercial viability of the Moon as a location for long-duration missions. This is a case study, not the final approach, however, if a proposition is to be made for the use of lunar extraterrestrial resources in space for an emerging market, a coherent financial and risk assessment process needs to be started.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-18,D4,5,4,x47739.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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