
doi: 10.1063/1.2931922
This paper explores the feasibility of beamed energy propulsion to provide transportation to and from the lunar surface to low lunar orbit using lunar oxygen as propellant. Oxygen, as an Electro‐Thermal Propulsion (ETP) monopropellant, has specific impulse comparing favorably with chemical bipropellants, though not as high as cryogenic LO2+LH2. Lunar hydrogen is not available in non‐polar regions and costly to transport from earth for use as fuel for lunar operations. However, oxygen is a major component of lunar soil and available given ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization) infrastructure. Low‐gravity and vacuum environment plus low velocity increments are distinct advantages favoring lunar‐based beamed energy propulsion. In lunar vacuum and low gravity environment, energy storage devices such as SMES (Superconductor Magnet Energy Storage) and FES (Flywheel Energy Storage) should exhibit improved efficiency. Microwave source design also favors vacuum operation.
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