If we could get a block of launchers as previously suggested, say ten or so,
why not set a couple of landers containing robotics (dirt movers). One
would be backup in case of bad landing and both would carry homing beacons
to guide sample modules to the same spot. This would carry the advantage of
being able to decrease the return modules payload down to 5 kilos or so and
spread the return payload over the next 8 flights so the failure of one
flight would not kill the profit for the whole thing. A profit could
possibly be made if we had a 50% success rate, anything over that would be
gravy.

Questions:

1. Could a guidance beacon or possible a laser reflector provide enough
guidance for the landing modules to land close enough for this to work?
(Precision guided munitions seem to be able to do this within a few meters).

2. Could the orbital GPS system possibly help with guidance? Would it have
the range?

3. As a comparison what would be the relative worth of moon rocks compared
to diamonds gram for gram? ( I would love a tie pin set with a 10 or 20
carat moon stone)

Terry



"Sander Vesik" wrote in message
...
In sci.space.policy Henry Spencer wrote:

However, the tether deployment, spin-up, and control are basically
research
projects, whereas rocket stages are fairly well understood. You're
right,
the results probably would be better, but it's a longer-term project
with
higher risk.

And ion from LEO to lunar orbit has bad problems with the Van Allen
belts.
Rad-hard electronics and solar arrays are very hard on the budget (and
on
the schedule, because of availability problems).

compared to what? The availability of tethers is rather worse so far and
unlike almost anything else, ramping up rad hard electronics production
is not that hard. Its much easier than say ramping up production of
rockets.


An easy mass margin design should be much easier on R&D money.

Only if it doesn't incur major new R&D problems of its own. Much the
best
way to provide generous mass margins is just to buy a bigger launch.
(One
possible way of doing that without moving out of the Molniya class --
it's
a big step up to Zenit 3SL or Proton -- would be to launch Molniya from
Kourou. I don't know if the Soyuz pad there will be fitted for this,
but
it might well be.)

The pad is still in construction, no? What it will do, potentialy after
upgrades
is thus open. I would be very suprised if its specs hadn't already changed
from
what the original was.

--
Sander

+++ Out of cheese error +++