An 'existence proof' is attempted for the feasibility of transport of lunar material to colonies in space. Masses of lunar material are accelerated to lunar escape by a tracked magnetically levitated mass driver; aim precision is to 1 km miss distance at L5 per mm/sec velocity error at the lunar surface. Mass driver design and linear synchronous motor drive design are discussed; laser-sensed checkpoints aid in velocity and directional precision. Moon-L5 trajectories are calculated. The design of the L5 construction station, or 'catcher vehicle,' is described; loads are received by chambers operating in a 'Venus flytrap' mode. Further research studies needed to round out the concept are listed explicitly.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Transport of lunar material to the sites of the colonies


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Princeton Conference on Space manufacturing facilities: Space colonies ; 1975 ; Princeton, NJ


    Publication date :

    1977-01-01


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    Building Lunar Colonies

    Alford, K. / American Society of Civil Engineers | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000


    Building Lunar Colonies

    Alford, Kristen | ASCE | 2000



    Lunar material transport vehicle

    Fisher, Charles D. / Lyons, Douglas / Wilkins, W. Allen, Jr. et al. | NTRS | 1988