Rocket Fuel to Earth Orbits from Near-Earth Asteroids and Comets

by Anthony Zuppero, Idaho Natl Engineering Lab, Idaho Falls, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Space III

Abstract:

The analysis describes an architecture to bring 10,000 tons units of rocket fuel ore, propellant and construction mass back to low Earth orbit from newly discovered near-Earth comets or asteroids. It offers a payback of order 100 times more mass to Earth orbit per trip than is initially launched. It is also shown that the simplest use of comet water for propulsion is near to the optimum.

Subject Headings: Asteroids, comets, and meteoroids | Orbits | Fuels | Water use | Space exploration | Energy consumption | Construction materials

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