Multimillionaire's private space ship 'can land on Mars'

If you're throwing away spacecraft, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
Neptune, can use a balloon system to hover in the atmosphere hoisting
a spacecraft below it.

Titan has an atmosphere and a solid surface.

Vehicles with rockets can land in vacuum.

The Dragon capsule masses 3 tons coming back. The Capsule plus
orbital module masses 6 tons going out.

http://www.spacex.com/dragon.php

It carries 1.29 tons of hydrazine/nitric oxide hypergolic propellant
for attitude control and orbital maneuvering.

The interesting thing is that they charged NASA $1.6 billion for 12
flights, and developed this vehicle. SpaceX charges $60 million per
launch, so they're changing an added $72 million per launch for the
six ton space craft. This is $12 million per ton. Which is 1/2 what
other aerospace contractors charge and 5x what I was predicting ($2
million to $2.5 million per ton) was possible with truly private
operations at the major aerospace contractors out of the box.

If NASA would contract with SpaceX they would likely send ships to the
moon and back or to Mars and back, for about the same amount of money
- in the $1.5 to $3.0 billion range.

A solar ion rocket system massing about 7 tons, carrying 7 tons of
propellant, with a 50 km/sec exhaust speed and operating at 100 MW,
would produce about 400 kg force thrust. Each boost takes 7 hours
out of Earth, less than an hour arriving and departing the moon and 4
days of zero gee cruise each way. Carrying 19 tons of useful load.

Using hypergolic propellants with a 3.1 km/sec exhaust speed and
dropping down from lunar orbit at 1.69 km/sec and coming back to that
orbit, requires 66.2% propellant. 12.6 tons of propellant. This
leaves 6.4 tons of useful load.

The same setup sends 19 tons to Mars orbit. Visiting Diemos and
Phobos for virtually no additional fuel. Using aerobraking to slow a
lander from Mars orbit. The vehicle only has to achieve 3.6 km/sec to
attain Mars orbit. This is 68.7% of the total mass as hypergolic
propellant- which is 18.3 tons total, instead of 19 tons. That is,
consuming 0.7 tons in transit, the same propellant can deliver 5.7
tons to the surface of Mars and return it to Earth.

The same system operates around Venus, without a lander - dropping
probes one way.

The same system delivers payload to Mercury as well landing and taking
off.

The same system delivers payload to the Ceres, Vesta, Hygeia, etc. and
returns

Even a modest 53 tons has a tremendous capacity to return large
quantities of critical materials worth tens of billions of dollars per
year, more than is spent by all space agencies together.

The Mission

The semi-major axis of Ceres is 2.7663 AU and the semi-major axis of
Earth is 1.0000 AU. A minimum energy transfer orbit between the two
worlds has a semi-major axis of 1.8832 AU. Applying the vis-viva
equation to this set of numbers we obtain;

V = SQRT(2/r - 1/a)

V(EARTH)= SQRT(2/1 - 1/1) = 1.0000
V(CERES)= SQRT(2/2.7663 - 1/2.7663) = 0.6012
V(transfer@EARTH) = SQRT(2/1 - 1/1.8832) = 1.2120
V(transfer@CERES) = SQRT(2/2.7663-1/1.8832) = 0.4382

So, to boost out from Earth toward Ceres requires a hyperbolic excess
velocity of 0.2120x Earth's orbital velocity. To stay at Ceres once
you get there requires 0.1630x Earth's orbital velocity.

The Earth averages 149,598,261 km from the Sun (1 AU) and it takes
31,556,926 seconds (1 YEAR) to complete the orbit. So, the
circumference of a circle this radiius divided by the number of
seconds, give an average velocity of 29.7860 km/sec (1.000 velocity
unit)

So, reducing the previous figures to km/sec units;

0.2120 x 29.7860 = 6.3146 km/sec from Earth
0.1630 x 29.7860 = 4.8552 km/sec at Ceres

Now, for an object orbiting 200 km above the Earth, it is moving at a
speed of 7.7914 km/sec and to maintain a velocity of 6.3146 km/sec at
infinity requires that it boost its speed at 200 km altitude to
12.6998 km/sec. This is a difference of 4.9085 km/sec from LEO to
have a hyperbolic excess of 6.3146 km/sec. A total delta vee of
9.7637 km/sec. Adding another delta vee of 4.8552 km/sec at Ceres to
return, requires a total delta vee of 14.6189

This ship

A 7 ton solar power supply combined with a 3 ton structure, and 3 tons
of consumables, obtains a net 40 ton of propellant for an ion rocket
capable of ejecting a jet at 50 km/sec. To impart 4.9085 km/sec on
Earth orbit under these conditions requires 9.35% of the 53 ton
starting mass be ejected. A total of 4.96 tons. Leaving 48.04 tons
in transit. Upon arrival 47 tons must be accelerates 4.8552 km/sec.
This requires 9.26% of the 47 tons ejected at 50 km/sec. This totals
4.36 tons of propellant. This leaves 42.64 tons at Ceres. Recall,
we've used 1.04 tons of consumables, and 9.32 tons of propellant to
get here. Another 0.64 tons of consumables are used while here,
leaving 42 tons, of which 1.32 tons is consumables and 3.00 tons is
structure leaving 37.68 tons of propellant.

The result

To impart 4.8552 km/sec to return to Earth requires 9.26% propellant.
Thus if all the 37.68 tons of propellant is used for this purpose, a
total of 364.91 tons of materials can be returned from Ceres to
Earth.

The cost

A total cost of $250 million for this mission returns materials for
$685.10 per kg.

The Value

http://www.scribd.com/doc/50130613/E...ort-2010-Annex

World Primary Production of

Beryllium 141 metric tons. $ 930/kg $ 131,130,000/yr
Gallium 111 metric tons $15,000/kg $1,665,000,000/yr
Germanium 139 metric tons $ 3,000/kg $ 417,000,000/yr
Gold 2,310 metric tons $18,000/kg $41,580,000,000/yr
Indium 568 metric tons $ 3,000/kg $ 1,704,000,000/yr
Palladium 195 metric tons $15,710/kg $ 3,063,450,000/yr
Platinum 178 metric tons $50,310/kg $ 8,955,180,000/yr
Rhenium 57 metric tons $ 6,000/kg $ 342,000,000/yr
Silver 21,300 metric tons $ 1,580/kg $33,654,000,000/yr

Returning all these metals except gold and silver from the asteroid
belt requires 7 flights. 7 flights returns the gold. 59 flights
returns the silver.

Order of Battle

Launching one every five days puts all 73 spacecraft on orbit in a
year, ready to fly to Ceres, Vesta, Hygeia during its opposition;

Vesta 1.380 years
Ceres 1.278 years
Hygeia 1.219 years

The 73 flights have a potential to return $89 billion worth of
critical materials. Upon return they land materials directly at
receiving centers anywhere on Earth. To replace them requires another
73 ships, costing $18.2 billion. A steady production of a launch
every five days gives the system a $50 million per day revenue with
which to cover basic costs, and revenues of $243 million per day
earning substantial profits, a portion of which are invested to
maintain significant growth in capabilities.

Mining the Asteroids

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freea...number=4026162
http://www.physikinstrumente.com/en/...php?newsid=145
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarm_robotics

Swarms of micro-robots powered by the 100 MW (reduced to 12.5 MW)
solar collector survey and process massive quantities of materials
while waiting for the next opposition to return home.

It takes

If concentration is 1 million to 1 and temperatures are 32.2
kilojoules per mole of material.

From this we can determine the time it takes for the robots under
ideal conditions to produce the required quantities of material using
the available solar energy.

On 4/24/2011 12:59 PM, Dr J R Stockton wrote:
But I think he's optimistic about "any" planet.

Mercury : parachutes no good
Venus : parachutes, etc., melt - or dissolve
Earth ; OK
Mars : OK?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune : nothing to land on
Pluto : demoted

He could be thinking cargo delivery to the Moon to supply a base.
Then it would use all rocket braking on a direct ascent type trajectory.
Mars is the most likely target though.
Although "landing" wouldn't be a very good description of what it would
do...a near Earth asteroid?

Pat

On Apr 24, 11:12*pm, William Mook wrote:
Even a modest 53 tons has a tremendous capacity to return large
quantities of critical materials worth tens of billions of dollars per
year, more than is spent by all space agencies together.

The Mission

The semi-major axis of Ceres is 2.7663 AU and the semi-major axis of
Earth is 1.0000 AU. *A minimum energy transfer orbit between the two
worlds has a semi-major axis of 1.8832 AU. *Applying the vis-viva
equation to this set of numbers we obtain;

V = SQRT(2/r - 1/a)

V(EARTH)= SQRT(2/1 - 1/1) = 1.0000
V(CERES)= SQRT(2/2.7663 - 1/2.7663) = 0.6012
V(transfer@EARTH) = SQRT(2/1 - 1/1.8832) = 1.2120
V(transfer@CERES) = SQRT(2/2.7663-1/1.8832) = 0.4382

So, to boost out from Earth toward Ceres requires a hyperbolic excess
velocity of 0.2120x Earth's orbital velocity. *To stay at Ceres once
you get there requires 0.1630x Earth's orbital velocity.

The Earth averages 149,598,261 km from the Sun (1 AU) and it takes
31,556,926 seconds (1 YEAR) to complete the orbit. *So, the
circumference of a circle this radiius divided by the number of
seconds, give an average velocity of 29.7860 km/sec (1.000 velocity
unit)

So, reducing the previous figures to km/sec units;

* * * * * *0.2120 x 29.7860 = 6.3146 km/sec from Earth
* * * * * *0.1630 x 29.7860 = 4.8552 km/sec at Ceres

Now, for an object orbiting 200 km above the Earth, it is moving at a
speed of 7.7914 km/sec and to maintain a velocity of 6.3146 km/sec at
infinity requires that it boost its speed at 200 km altitude to
12.6998 km/sec. *This is a difference of 4.9085 km/sec from LEO to
have a hyperbolic excess of 6.3146 km/sec. *A total delta vee of
9.7637 km/sec. *Adding another delta vee of 4.8552 km/sec at Ceres to
return, requires a total delta vee of 14.6189

This ship

A 7 ton solar power supply combined with a 3 ton structure, and 3 tons
of consumables, obtains a net 40 ton of propellant for an ion rocket
capable of ejecting a jet at 50 km/sec. * To impart 4.9085 km/sec on
Earth orbit under these conditions requires 9.35% of the 53 ton
starting mass be ejected. *A total of 4.96 tons. *Leaving 48.04 tons
in transit. *Upon arrival 47 tons must be accelerates 4.8552 km/sec.
This requires 9.26% of the 47 tons ejected at 50 km/sec. *This totals
4.36 tons of propellant. *This leaves 42.64 tons at Ceres. *Recall,
we've used 1.04 tons of consumables, and 9.32 tons of propellant to
get here. *Another 0.64 tons of consumables are used while here,
leaving 42 tons, of which 1.32 tons is consumables and 3.00 tons is
structure leaving 37.68 tons of propellant.

The result

To impart 4.8552 km/sec to return to Earth requires 9.26% propellant.
Thus if all the 37.68 tons of propellant is used for this purpose, a
total of 364.91 tons of materials can be returned from Ceres to
Earth.

The cost

A total cost of $250 million for this mission returns materials for
$685.10 per kg.

The Value

http://www.scribd.com/doc/50130613/E...-Report-2010-A...

World Primary Production of

Beryllium * * 141 metric tons. *$ * * 930/kg * $ * 131,130,000/yr
Gallium * * * *111 metric tons * $15,000/kg * $1,665,000,000/yr
Germanium 139 metric tons * $ *3,000/kg * $ * * 417,000,000/yr
Gold * * * * * *2,310 metric tons $18,000/kg *$41,580,000,000/yr
Indium * * * * *568 metric tons *$ *3,000/kg * $ *1,704,000,000/yr
Palladium * * 195 metric tons *$15,710/kg * $ *3,063,450,000/yr
Platinum * * * 178 metric tons *$50,310/kg * $ *8,955,180,000/yr
Rhenium * * * *57 metric tons * $ *6,000/kg *$ * * 342,000,000/yr
Silver * * *21,300 metric tons * *$ *1,580/kg $33,654,000,000/yr

Returning all these metals except gold and silver from the asteroid
belt requires 7 flights. *7 flights returns the gold. *59 flights
returns the silver.

Order of Battle

Launching one every five days puts all 73 spacecraft on orbit in a
year, ready to fly to Ceres, Vesta, Hygeia during its opposition;

Vesta * 1.380 years
Ceres * 1.278 years
Hygeia *1.219 years

The 73 flights have a potential to return $89 billion worth of
critical materials. *Upon return they land materials directly at
receiving centers anywhere on Earth. *To replace them requires another
73 ships, costing $18.2 billion. * A steady production of a launch
every five days gives the system a $50 million per day revenue with
which to cover basic costs, and revenues of $243 million per day
earning substantial profits, a portion of which are invested to
maintain significant growth in capabilities.

Mining the Asteroids

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freea...Swarm_robotics

Swarms of micro-robots powered by the 100 MW (reduced to 12.5 MW)
solar collector survey and process massive quantities of materials
while waiting for the next opposition to return home.

It takes

If concentration is 1 million to 1 and temperatures are 32.2
kilojoules per mole of material.

From this we can determine the time it takes for the robots under
ideal conditions to produce the required quantities of material using
the available solar energy.

There's certainly no shortage of complex and valuable elements from
our moon (everything from He3 to thorium and perhaps loads of radium,
platinum, cobalt-60 plus with any luck there should be loads of
carbonado), or otherwise especially good element stuff from the planet
Venus (6.5% thorium and 2.2% uranium)
http://www.mentallandscape.com/V_Vega.htm
If there's that much surface thorium and uranium just laying around,
you can imagine what else is there to behold and easy to obtain.

http://translate.google.com/#
Brad Guth, Brad_Guth, Brad.Guth, BradGuth, BG / “Guth Usenet”

On Apr 25, 2:12*am, William Mook wrote:
Even a modest 53 tons has a tremendous capacity to return large
quantities of critical materials worth tens of billions of dollars per
year, more than is spent by all space agencies together.

The Mission

The semi-major axis of Ceres is 2.7663 AU and the semi-major axis of
Earth is 1.0000 AU. *A minimum energy transfer orbit between the two
worlds has a semi-major axis of 1.8832 AU. *Applying the vis-viva
equation to this set of numbers we obtain;

V = SQRT(2/r - 1/a)

V(EARTH)= SQRT(2/1 - 1/1) = 1.0000
V(CERES)= SQRT(2/2.7663 - 1/2.7663) = 0.6012
V(transfer@EARTH) = SQRT(2/1 - 1/1.8832) = 1.2120
V(transfer@CERES) = SQRT(2/2.7663-1/1.8832) = 0.4382

So, to boost out from Earth toward Ceres requires a hyperbolic excess
velocity of 0.2120x Earth's orbital velocity. *To stay at Ceres once
you get there requires 0.1630x Earth's orbital velocity.

The Earth averages 149,598,261 km from the Sun (1 AU) and it takes
31,556,926 seconds (1 YEAR) to complete the orbit. *So, the
circumference of a circle this radiius divided by the number of
seconds, give an average velocity of 29.7860 km/sec (1.000 velocity
unit)

So, reducing the previous figures to km/sec units;

* * * * * *0.2120 x 29.7860 = 6.3146 km/sec from Earth
* * * * * *0.1630 x 29.7860 = 4.8552 km/sec at Ceres

Now, for an object orbiting 200 km above the Earth, it is moving at a
speed of 7.7914 km/sec and to maintain a velocity of 6.3146 km/sec at
infinity requires that it boost its speed at 200 km altitude to
12.6998 km/sec. *This is a difference of 4.9085 km/sec from LEO to
have a hyperbolic excess of 6.3146 km/sec. *A total delta vee of
9.7637 km/sec. *Adding another delta vee of 4.8552 km/sec at Ceres to
return, requires a total delta vee of 14.6189

This ship

A 7 ton solar power supply combined with a 3 ton structure, and 3 tons
of consumables, obtains a net 40 ton of propellant for an ion rocket
capable of ejecting a jet at 50 km/sec. * To impart 4.9085 km/sec on
Earth orbit under these conditions requires 9.35% of the 53 ton
starting mass be ejected. *A total of 4.96 tons. *Leaving 48.04 tons
in transit. *Upon arrival 47 tons must be accelerates 4.8552 km/sec.
This requires 9.26% of the 47 tons ejected at 50 km/sec. *This totals
4.36 tons of propellant. *This leaves 42.64 tons at Ceres. *Recall,
we've used 1.04 tons of consumables, and 9.32 tons of propellant to
get here. *Another 0.64 tons of consumables are used while here,
leaving 42 tons, of which 1.32 tons is consumables and 3.00 tons is
structure leaving 37.68 tons of propellant.

The result

To impart 4.8552 km/sec to return to Earth requires 9.26% propellant.
Thus if all the 37.68 tons of propellant is used for this purpose, a
total of 364.91 tons of materials can be returned from Ceres to
Earth.

The cost

A total cost of $250 million for this mission returns materials for
$685.10 per kg.

The Value

http://www.scribd.com/doc/50130613/E...-Report-2010-A...

World Primary Production of

Beryllium * * 141 metric tons. *$ * * 930/kg * $ * 131,130,000/yr
Gallium * * * *111 metric tons * $15,000/kg * $1,665,000,000/yr
Germanium 139 metric tons * $ *3,000/kg * $ * * 417,000,000/yr
Gold * * * * * *2,310 metric tons $18,000/kg *$41,580,000,000/yr
Indium * * * * *568 metric tons *$ *3,000/kg * $ *1,704,000,000/yr
Palladium * * 195 metric tons *$15,710/kg * $ *3,063,450,000/yr
Platinum * * * 178 metric tons *$50,310/kg * $ *8,955,180,000/yr
Rhenium * * * *57 metric tons * $ *6,000/kg *$ * * 342,000,000/yr
Silver * * *21,300 metric tons * *$ *1,580/kg $33,654,000,000/yr

Returning all these metals except gold and silver from the asteroid
belt requires 7 flights. *7 flights returns the gold. *59 flights
returns the silver.

Order of Battle

Launching one every five days puts all 73 spacecraft on orbit in a
year, ready to fly to Ceres, Vesta, Hygeia during its opposition;

Vesta * 1.380 years
Ceres * 1.278 years
Hygeia *1.219 years

The 73 flights have a potential to return $89 billion worth of
critical materials. *Upon return they land materials directly at
receiving centers anywhere on Earth. *To replace them requires another
73 ships, costing $18.2 billion. * A steady production of a launch
every five days gives the system a $50 million per day revenue with
which to cover basic costs, and revenues of $243 million per day
earning substantial profits, a portion of which are invested to
maintain significant growth in capabilities.

Mining the Asteroids

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freea...Swarm_robotics

Swarms of micro-robots powered by the 100 MW (reduced to 12.5 MW)
solar collector survey and process massive quantities of materials
while waiting for the next opposition to return home.

It takes

If concentration is 1 million to 1 and temperatures are 32.2
kilojoules per mole of material.

From this we can determine the time it takes for the robots under
ideal conditions to produce the required quantities of material using
the available solar energy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAUDvsjcHWY

I am still offering 24,000 contracts per day of 1,000 barrels each for
crude oil made from US coal for $50,000 per contract down, and $40,000
due
at delivery in 7 years. CME Group reported daily volume of 3 million
contracts for oil futures at over $100,000 per contract - so I'm not
asking much. With this I can do much.

When I started this with Accenture back in 2003, I was offering oil
for
$16,000 per contract and worried that it wouldn't be enough, but was
assured I could leverage production going forward in a complex finance
scheme.

Today, its simple. $50,000 per contract covers all cost, even
inflation
over the construction period - if the volume is large enough to take
enough
surplus dollars out of circulation.

Over 7 years this collects $2.18 trillion which is nearly half the
$4.4
trillion held by foreigners that is causing so much economic pressure.
At
$6.25 billion per 200,000 b/d facility, this is enough to build 395
facilities in 14 years and produce 79 million barrels per day when
that's
done. At $100 per barrel this is $7.9 billion per day in revenue,
$2.88
trillion per year, worth $28.1 trillion - when discounted at 8% for 20
years. (8% reflecting a lower S&P rating for the US)

In short this gives all by itself the US the capability to put its
economic house in order by turning into an oil exporting country.

Cheers
William

We will mine the moon too, but we should not do it first. We make
money in the asteroids, and use the easy profits there to go after
harder profits on the moon and mercury and elsewhere.

To see why please consider the following;

To travel on a minimum energy trajectory to the moon requires 3.65 km/
sec delta vee from LEO, another 1.1 km/sec to go into orbit from the
free return trajectory. Then, 1.7 km/sec to land, and 1.7 km/sec to
take off into orbit (instead of direct return) then another 1.1 km/sec
to get back to Earth.

The total here is

3.65 LEO to LFR
1.10 LFR to LLO
1.70 LLO to LS
1.70 LS to LLO
1.10 LLO to LFR

9.25 TOTAL

This compares favorably to 14.62 km/sec for the asteroid mining.

So, why not do that instead?

Well, because the asteroid mining can occur without chemical
rockets! That is, the 3.4 km/sec delta vee needed to set down on the
moon, and return to lunar orbit, must be done with chemical rockets
since ion rockets cannot produce sufficient thrust to do that.

So, 5.85 km/sec low gee maneuvers can be done with ion rocket with
exhaust speed of 50.00 km/sec requiring 11.05% propellant fraction.

While 3.40 km/sec high gee maneuvers must be done with chemical rocket
with exhaust speed of 3.5 to 4.3 km/sec requiring 54.65% propellant
fraction in the best case.

This means that the payloads returned per dollar invested is vastly
less than in the case of asteroid mining.

Step Vf Ve u Weight Propn't Weight

LEO LFR 3.65 50.00 7.04% 53.00 3.73 49.27
LFR LLO 1.10 50.00 2.18% 49.27 1.07 48.20
LLO LS 1.70 4.30 32.66% 39.50 12.90 26.60
LS LLO 1.70 4.30 32.66% 73.50 24.00 49.50
LLO LFR 1.10 50.00 2.18% 58.20 1.27 56.93

So, starting with a 53 metric ton vehicle in LEO we end up with 48.2
metric tons orbiting the moon. Allowing 8.7 tons for the orbiting ion
stage and return propellant, we detach a chemical powered lander to
set down on the moon - that masses 39.5 tons. It burns through 12.90
tons of propellant landing. It carries 24.00 tons of propellant to
return and 2.6 tons of mining equipment and structure. That 24 tons
puts 49.50 tons into Low Lunar Orbit to dock with the ion stage.
Subtracting the 2.6 tons of structure this leaves 46.9 tons of payload
that is returned to Earth.

So, not only does going to the moon to mine first increase the
logistical complexity by increasing the number of systems and their
mode of operation, it radically reduces the amount of material that
can be returned per dollar invested.

The cost of going to the moon will add the cost of the lander to the
cost of the system that is capable of mining the asteroids without the
lander while reducing the amount returned from 364.9 tons to 46.9
tons.

Costs are expected then to be $300 million per mission for this return
of materials for $6,396.58 per kg.

For the asteroid return mission cost is $250 million to return 364.91
tons costing $685.10 per kg.

Beryllium Rhenium Silver Germanium Indium are no longer economic with
a first generation system. The amount of investment needed to make a
significant contribution to the world's supply situation is vastly
increased.

For this reason, asteroid mining done with the proposed system makes
more sense as a first step. Once returns are made, and a portion of
the profits allocated to expansion, then, different systems involving
greater investments can be made on the moon. For example, magnetic or
steam powered launchers - at Ceres Vesta Hygeia and the Moon will
radically lower costs from those here, and increase the type and
amounts of materials from space.


The Value

http://www.scribd.com/doc/50130613/E...-Report-2010-A...

World Primary Production of

Beryllium * * 141 metric tons. *$ * * 930/kg * $ * 131,130,000/yr
Gallium * * * *111 metric tons * $15,000/kg * $1,665,000,000/yr
Germanium 139 metric tons * $ *3,000/kg * $ * * 417,000,000/yr
Gold * * * * * *2,310 metric tons $18,000/kg *$41,580,000,000/yr
Indium * * * * *568 metric tons *$ *3,000/kg * $ *1,704,000,000/yr
Palladium * * 195 metric tons *$15,710/kg * $ *3,063,450,000/yr
Platinum * * * 178 metric tons *$50,310/kg * $ *8,955,180,000/yr
Rhenium * * * *57 metric tons * $ *6,000/kg *$ * * 342,000,000/yr
Silver * * *21,300 metric tons * *$ *1,580/kg $33,654,000,000/yr

Returning all these metals except gold and silver from the asteroid
belt requires 7 flights. *7 flights returns the gold. *59 flights
returns the silver.

Order of Battle

Launching one every five days puts all 73 spacecraft on orbit in a
year, ready to fly to Ceres, Vesta, Hygeia during its opposition;

Vesta * 1.380 years
Ceres * 1.278 years
Hygeia *1.219 years

The 73 flights have a potential to return $89 billion worth of
critical materials. *Upon return they land materials directly at
receiving centers anywhere on Earth. *To replace them requires another
73 ships, costing $18.2 billion. * A steady production of a launch
every five days gives the system a $50 million per day revenue with
which to cover basic costs, and revenues of $243 million per day
earning substantial profits, a portion of which are invested to
maintain significant growth in capabilities.

Mining the Asteroids

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freea...Swarm_robotics

Swarms of micro-robots powered by the 100 MW (reduced to 12.5 MW)
solar collector survey and process massive quantities of materials
while waiting for the next opposition to return home.

It takes

If concentration is 1 million to 1 and temperatures are 32.2
kilojoules per mole of material.

From this we can determine the time it takes for the robots under
ideal conditions to produce the required quantities of material using
the available solar energy.

On Apr 25, 4:37*pm, William Mook wrote:
We will mine the moon too, but we should not do it first. We make
money in the asteroids, and use the easy profits there to go after
harder profits on the moon and mercury and elsewhere.

To see why please consider the following;

To travel on a minimum energy trajectory to the moon requires 3.65 km/
sec delta vee from LEO, another 1.1 km/sec to go into orbit from the
free return trajectory. *Then, 1.7 km/sec to land, and 1.7 km/sec to
take off into orbit (instead of direct return) then another 1.1 km/sec
to get back to Earth.

The total here is

* *3.65 LEO to LFR
* *1.10 LFR to LLO
* *1.70 LLO to LS
* *1.70 LS to LLO
* *1.10 LLO to LFR

* *9.25 TOTAL

This compares favorably to 14.62 km/sec for the asteroid mining.

So, why not do that instead?

Well, because the asteroid mining can occur without chemical
rockets! * That is, the 3.4 km/sec delta vee needed to set down on the
moon, and return to lunar orbit, must be done with chemical rockets
since ion rockets cannot produce sufficient thrust to do that.

So, *5.85 km/sec low gee maneuvers can be done with ion rocket with
exhaust speed of 50.00 km/sec requiring 11.05% propellant fraction.

While 3.40 km/sec high gee maneuvers must be done with chemical rocket
with exhaust speed of 3.5 to 4.3 km/sec requiring 54.65% propellant
fraction in the best case.

This means that the payloads returned per dollar invested is vastly
less than in the case of asteroid mining.

*Step * Vf * * *Ve * * * * *u * * * * * Weight *Propn't Weight

LEO LFR 3.65 * *50.00 * * 7.04% 53.00 * * 3.73 *49.27
LFR LLO 1.10 * *50.00 * * 2.18% 49.27 * * 1.07 *48.20
LLO LS *1.70 * * *4.30 *32.66% *39.50 * 12.90 * 26.60
LS LLO *1.70 * * *4.30 *32.66% *73.50 * 24.00 * 49.50
LLO LFR 1.10 * *50.00 * 2.18% * 58.20 * * 1.27 *56.93

So, starting with a 53 metric ton vehicle in LEO we end up with 48.2
metric tons orbiting the moon. *Allowing 8.7 tons for the orbiting ion
stage and return propellant, we detach a chemical powered lander to
set down on the moon - that masses 39.5 tons. *It burns through 12.90
tons of propellant landing. * It carries 24.00 tons of propellant to
return and 2.6 tons of mining equipment and structure. That 24 tons
puts 49.50 tons into Low Lunar Orbit to dock with the ion stage.
Subtracting the 2.6 tons of structure this leaves 46.9 tons of payload
that is returned to Earth.

So, not only does going to the moon to mine first increase the
logistical complexity by increasing the number of systems and their
mode of operation, it radically reduces the amount of material that
can be returned per dollar invested.

The cost of going to the moon will add the cost of the lander to the
cost of the system that is capable of mining the asteroids without the
lander while reducing the amount returned from 364.9 tons to 46.9
tons.

Costs are expected then to be $300 million per mission for this return
of materials for *$6,396.58 per kg.

For the asteroid return mission cost is $250 million to return 364.91
tons costing $685.10 per kg.

Beryllium Rhenium Silver *Germanium Indium are no longer economic with
a first generation system. *The amount of investment needed to make a
significant contribution to the world's supply situation is vastly
increased.

For this reason, asteroid mining done with the proposed system makes
more sense as a first step. * Once returns are made, and a portion of
the profits allocated to expansion, then, different systems involving
greater investments can be made on the moon. *For example, magnetic or
steam powered launchers - at Ceres Vesta Hygeia and the Moon will
radically lower costs from those here, and increase the type and
amounts of materials from space.









The Value

http://www.scribd.com/doc/50130613/E...-Report-2010-A...

World Primary Production of

Beryllium * * 141 metric tons. *$ * * 930/kg * $ * 131,130,000/yr
Gallium * * * *111 metric tons * $15,000/kg * $1,665,000,000/yr
Germanium 139 metric tons * $ *3,000/kg * $ * * 417,000,000/yr
Gold * * * * * *2,310 metric tons $18,000/kg *$41,580,000,000/yr
Indium * * * * *568 metric tons *$ *3,000/kg * $ *1,704,000,000/yr
Palladium * * 195 metric tons *$15,710/kg * $ *3,063,450,000/yr
Platinum * * * 178 metric tons *$50,310/kg * $ *8,955,180,000/yr
Rhenium * * * *57 metric tons * $ *6,000/kg *$ * * 342,000,000/yr
Silver * * *21,300 metric tons * *$ *1,580/kg $33,654,000,000/yr

Returning all these metals except gold and silver from the asteroid
belt requires 7 flights. *7 flights returns the gold. *59 flights
returns the silver.

Order of Battle

Launching one every five days puts all 73 spacecraft on orbit in a
year, ready to fly to Ceres, Vesta, Hygeia during its opposition;

Vesta * 1.380 years
Ceres * 1.278 years
Hygeia *1.219 years

The 73 flights have a potential to return $89 billion worth of
critical materials. *Upon return they land materials directly at
receiving centers anywhere on Earth. *To replace them requires another
73 ships, costing $18.2 billion. * A steady production of a launch
every five days gives the system a $50 million per day revenue with
which to cover basic costs, and revenues of $243 million per day
earning substantial profits, a portion of which are invested to
maintain significant growth in capabilities.

Mining the Asteroids

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freea...mber=4026162ht...

Swarms of micro-robots powered by the 100 MW (reduced to 12.5 MW)
solar collector survey and process massive quantities of materials
while waiting for the next opposition to return home.

It takes

If concentration is 1 million to 1 and temperatures are 32.2
kilojoules per mole of material.

From this we can determine the time it takes for the robots under
ideal conditions to produce the required quantities of material using
the available solar energy.

Why would those most valuable of elements not exist on and/or within
our moon, in much greater volumes than asteroids that are usually of a
lower average density and moving at a considerable velocity past
Earth?

How many asteroids and at what average mass are passing by within 0.1
AU?

http://translate.google.com/#
Brad Guth, Brad_Guth, Brad.Guth, BradGuth, BG / “Guth Usenet”

William Mook wrote:

I am still offering 24,000 contracts per day of 1,000 barrels
each for crude oil made from US coal for $50,000 per contract
down, and $40,000 due at delivery in 7 years.

I look forward to hearing the details of the worldwide, millenia-old
conspiracy that prevents this scheme from coming to fruition. :-)

Jim Davis

On Apr 25, 5:19*pm, Jim Davis wrote:
William Mook wrote:
I am still offering 24,000 contracts per day of 1,000 barrels
each for crude oil made from US coal for $50,000 per contract
down, and $40,000 due at delivery in 7 years.

I look forward to hearing the details of the worldwide, millenia-old
conspiracy that prevents this scheme from coming to fruition. :-)

Jim Davis

It's a little fuzzy, as a kind of Rothschild, Federal Reserve and Big
Energy kind of Skull and Bones cabal/mafia policy that doesn't allow
outsiders to revise, interpret or introduce anything better or much
less cheaper than the status-quo.

They even have their best FUD-masters here, as topic/author stalking
and bashing others for all it's worth. Would you bother do that if
you weren't getting instructed and/or paid?

http://translate.google.com/#
Brad Guth, Brad_Guth, Brad.Guth, BradGuth, BG / “Guth Usenet”

If you're not throwing away spacecraft you should consider the Kaman
Rotochute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41C0_rmoS_4

This was funded by the USAF in August 1960 to be developed as a re-
entry aid for nose cones, manned spacecraft and boosters. They're
very light weight and controllable. By burning ullage in a booster
rocket tipped blades can be used to bring boosters and spacecraft in
for a soft landing. They have a very low mass to lift. The system
also can vary drag independently of speed by changing coning angle and
angle of attack. Tilting the axis of rotation relative to the
spacecraft guides the descent. The 'hopping' rotochute is powered by
an engine or even rocket action, and is capable of slowing descent to
zero at a specified point, or even repositioning the booster or
spacecraft if desred.

NASA TN-D-4537

Coefficient of Drag of the capsule+rotochute is 2.4 from Mach 3 to
Mach 28. Cd rises to 3.2 at Mach 2, and continues upward. Cd for
capsule alone remains at 1.5 from M3 to M28 and below Mach 3 falls to
0.9 at M0

L/D for a capsule alone is 0.5 at all speeds. L/D of the rotochute is
0.8 from Mach 5 to Mach 28. It rises to 1.2 as it slows from Mach 5
to Mach 1, and jumps discontinuously to 4 below Mach 1.

From orbit a rotochute equipped booster or capsule could navigate
precisely within a 800 mile wide footprint and an 800 mile long range.

Sandia 239-56-51 Nov 16, 1956

Lighter than wings parachutes and landing gear. Only 2% of the
recovered weight is needed. For a vehicle that has only 9% structure
fraction, this adds 0.18% to the total weight.