| ABSTRACT
A method and apparatus are provided for delivering
lunar
generated fluid to Earth orbit from lunar orbit. Transport takes
place in an external tank of a shuttle which has
been suitably outfitted in Earth orbit for reusable travel between Earth
orbit and a lunar orbit. The outfitting of the external tank
includes the adding of an engine, an electrical system, a communication
system, a guidance system, an aerobraking device, and a plurality of interconnected
fluid storage tanks to the hydrogen and oxygen tanks of the external tank.
The external tank is then propelled to lunar orbit the first time using
Earth based propellant. In lunar orbit, the storage tanks are filled with
the lunar generated fluid with the remainder tank volumes filled with lunar
generated liquid oxygen and hydrogen which serve as propellants for returning
the tank to Earth orbit where the fluid is off-loaded. The remaining lunar
generated oxygen and hydrogen is then sufficient to return the external
tank to lunar orbit so that a subsequent cycle of fluid delivery is repeated.
A space station in a higher Earth orbit is preferably used to outfit the
external tank, and a lunar node in lunar orbit is used to store and transfer
the fluid and liquid oxygen and hydrogen to the external tank. The
lunar generated fluid is preferably 3He. |
