Geosynchronous transfer orbits as a market for impulse delivered by lunar sourced propellant

摘要: Abstract Every year around 100 metric tons of commercially addressable geostationary satellites are launched into geosynchronous transfer orbits (GTOs). The orbit raising from GTO to equatorial (GEO) is an existing market for impulse that could be addressed by a service using propellant sourced the Moon. We reconstructed economic model in recently published Commercial lunar architecture: collaborative study production (Kornuta et al., 2019) and used it investigate financial viability providing propulsion as GTOs. NASA’s General Mission Analysis Tool design delivery flight plan, which we extend cover sub super synchronous delivery. economic, astrodynamic, engineering models derive sensitivity internal rate return launch costs, sale prices, tug inert mass fractions, orbit. While falling prices erode returns, they may create other markets propellant, explore some higher products these would make available.