The options available for lifting both heavy payloads and personnel to low Earth orbit, and from there to geostationary orbit are reviewed. It is concluded that conventional launcher technology using liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engines should be adequate for the former task. The latter can best be accomplished using electric propulsion with ion thrusters being the most suitable devices, owing to their high efficiency and advanced state of development. Environmental effects of such a transportation system are considered and it is concluded that they should be acceptable.
Solar Power Satellites. A Review of the Space Transportation Options
1980
194 pages
Report
No indication
English
Unmanned Spacecraft , Space Launch Vehicles & Support Equipment , Heavy lift launch vehicles , Solar power satellites , Space transportation , Air pollution , Cost analysis , Electric propulsion , Environment effects , Geosynchronous orbits , Liquid propellant rocket engines , Parking orbits , Spacecraft configurations , Upper atmosphere , Foreign technology
Transportation options for solar power satellites
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