Dramatically Reduced Launch Costs for Mars Missions using a Reusable Momentum Exchange Tether with Electrodynamic Reboost as the Upper Stage

Abstract

Proposes a reusable in-space transfer stage for Mars missions: a small momentum-exchange tether facility in Earth orbit that releases spacecraft onto Mars or lunar trajectories and then restores its own orbit by electrodynamic reboost, using no propellant. Launched on a single Dnepr together with its first payloads, the facility is estimated to cost about US$32 million in total, less than one Delta-class launch. The paper tabulates nine example missions, from a 300 kg penetrator to a constellation of small relay satellites.

The PDF is reproduced unchanged from October 2002. The abstract above was written for this page.

Cite

@techreport{rowland2002tether,
  author      = {Rowland, Simon and Hoyt, Robert},
  title       = {Dramatically Reduced Launch Costs for Mars Missions using a Reusable Momentum Exchange Tether with Electrodynamic Reboost as the Upper Stage},
  institution = {Direct Leap Technologies, Inc.},
  address     = {Toronto},
  type        = {Concept proposal},
  year        = {2002},
  month       = oct,
  url         = {https://www.directleap.com/papers/reusable-transfer-stage.pdf}
}