Cargo Transport to the Lunar Surface Using a Three Rotor Sling

by Brian Tillotson, Advanced Civil Space Systems, Huntsville, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

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

Abstract:

The three rotor sling, a momentum transfer device, is described. The dynamics of multi-rotor systems are explained, and the three rotor system is shown to be favored over one and two rotor systems because a system of three rigid rotors is able to maintain both constant angular momentum and constant kinetic energy with no expenditure of propellant. A point design is presented for a lunar surface-to-orbit transport system based on a three rotor sling. The transport system is shown to improve on previous concepts by reducing the cost of returning cargo containers to the lunar surface.

Subject Headings: Freight transportation | Moon | Lunar materials | Benefit cost ratios | Transportation management | Kinetics | Container shipping

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