A Review of Future Orbit Transfer Technology.

Abstract

Probably the most important factor in deciding the viability of future space projects will be the cost of transportation. This is particularly true of those missions catagorised as 'space industrialisation', which include plans to place massive solar power satellites in geostationary orbit. Although a major proportion of the transportation costs can be attributed to the initial stage of reaching low earth orbit, in many cases the expense of transferring cargoes and personnel to outer orbits will be crucial. This paper reviews the technological options available for this second stage, with emphasis on large, long-term projects, such as solar power satellites. It is concluded that chemical propulsion systems will be needed for the transfer of personnel, but that the high specific impulse offered by electric propulsion provides an enormous economic advantage for the movement of non-priority cargo. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA110579

Entities

People

  • D. G. Fearn

Organizations

  • Royal Aircraft Establishment

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Apogees
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Earth Orbits
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Elliptical Orbits
  • Environment
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Ion Propulsion
  • Ion Thrusters
  • Materials Processing
  • Self Propelled
  • Solar Cells
  • Solar Energy
  • Solar Power Satellites
  • Space Systems
  • Space Transportation
  • Spacecraft

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Economics
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Orbital Debris