The present study analyses the technical feasibility and economic sustainability of Moon-mined propellant transportation, storage, and distribution to final users. Two technical architectural options are considered for propellant transportation: taking fuel from the Moon or from Earth. Both architectures assume the same storage and distribution system, i.e., the use of an orbiting depot. The depot will be reachable by various types of spacecrafts for refuelling. Both architectures are evaluated in terms of technical feasibility, performance and economic convenience. As the estimates of the investment, operational costs, and revenues are highly uncertain, a risk model, i.e. the Monte Carlo analysis, is used to evaluate the exposure of the ventures to factors that could affect the volatility of results and lead them to fail. These analyses identify transporting propellant from the Moon as the most promising solution. Copyright © 2021 by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).
On-orbit refuelling. Technical and economic viability of Moon-mined propellant transportation, storage, and distribution / Sommariva, A.; Gaudenzi, P.; Pianorsi, M.; Vittori, E.; Pasquali, M.; Eugeni, M.; Quercia, T.; Italiano, M.; Telli, C.; Di Nicola, M.; Gori, L.; Chizzolini, B.. - D4:(2021). (Intervento presentato al convegno 19th IAA Symposium on Visions and Strategies 2021 at the 72nd International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2021 tenutosi a Dubai).
On-orbit refuelling. Technical and economic viability of Moon-mined propellant transportation, storage, and distribution
Gaudenzi, P.;Pasquali, M.;Eugeni, M.;
2021
Abstract
The present study analyses the technical feasibility and economic sustainability of Moon-mined propellant transportation, storage, and distribution to final users. Two technical architectural options are considered for propellant transportation: taking fuel from the Moon or from Earth. Both architectures assume the same storage and distribution system, i.e., the use of an orbiting depot. The depot will be reachable by various types of spacecrafts for refuelling. Both architectures are evaluated in terms of technical feasibility, performance and economic convenience. As the estimates of the investment, operational costs, and revenues are highly uncertain, a risk model, i.e. the Monte Carlo analysis, is used to evaluate the exposure of the ventures to factors that could affect the volatility of results and lead them to fail. These analyses identify transporting propellant from the Moon as the most promising solution. Copyright © 2021 by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
