Lunar ISRU Needs Perspective for Propellant Generation

The article discusses the lunar in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) needs for propellant generation, focusing on the specific propellant requirements for transportation services between Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and the Moon. It covers the importance of lunar resources such as sunlight, regolith, volatiles, and abandoned assets for propellant production, emphasizing the economic viability and value factors associated with Lunar ISRU.

• Lunar ISRU
• Propellant Generation
• Moon Shuttle
• Economic Viability
• Lunar Resources

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1. A Perspective on Lunar ISRU Needs Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium 17 September 2020 Virtual Dallas Bienhoff Founder and Space Architect dallas.bienhoff@csdc.space 571-232-4554 (cell) 571-459-2660 (office)

2. A Perspective on Lunar ISRU Needs The bucket of in situ lunar resources includes: Sunlight an energy source Shadow an existing heat sink Regolith oxygen source, radiation shielding, construction Lava tubes radiation shielding, thermal stability Volatiles water, methane, ammonia, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide (https://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2010/10-89AR.html) Abandoned stages and other assets tanks, electronics, mechanisms, structure Cislunar Space Development Company is interested in propellant Water to produce LOx and LH or a LOx and LH provider LOx and LH for hopping around the Moon LOx and LH for returning to EML1 Water to export to EML1 propellant depot 1

3. ISRU Propellant Needs are Architecture Specific CSDC is a transportation services provider between LEO and the Moon Our propellant needs are architecture and mission type specific We operate a Moon shuttle between our EML1 depot and the lunar surface The Moon shuttle delivers 25 t to the surface and returns without refueling Moon shuttle can carry personnel roundtrip between EML1 and surface Moon shuttle can export 25 t to EML1 from the lunar surface 2 11/13/2017

4. CSDCs Lunar Propellant Needs per Trip 8 15 t to return to EML1 without cargo 19 25 t for personnel return to EML1 45 69 t to fill tanks before departure Up to 69 t for roundtrip surface hops 69 91 t to export 25 t water Quantity and Value will determine economic viability 3 11/13/2017

5. Lunar ISRU Value Depends on LEO Propellant Value Propellant for use on the surface is more valuable than ascent propellant Surface use Propellant more valuable than product Propellant tanks increase inert mass 100% of cargo is useful Surface use ISRU value factors Products: Propellant: 6 14 x LEO value 7 18 x LEO value Ascent propellant ISRU value factors 4 9 x LEO value Ascent Propellant Factors increase as LEO value decreases Factors increase as margin increases 4 11/13/2017