AAS National Conference 2008: Thomas C. Taylor

A Commercial Path to Exploration in the Next Decade Tom Taylor Lunar Transportation Systems AAS 2008 CONFERENCE & 55th ANNUAL MEETING Pasadena, CA 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Introduction • LTS is a Commercial Transportation Company interested in Lunar Logistics development • LTS is an entrepreneurial startup company using same Startup Team from previous ventures in the Commercial Space Industry • We use Innovation and our entrepreneurial business model to reduce the cost of Space Operations and provide unmanned cargo delivery. • Our future business goal is to use innovation to evolve into a Lunar trade route business to assist NASA in moving to Mars Exploration and Beyond quicker. • We can learn from previous Earth Trade Routes & Remote Exploration Camps. • Let’s look at some innovation, video clips and hardware 2 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Module • Reduced the Cost of Manned Tended Research in the Shuttle • The Mid-Deck Locker became and industry standard • PriceWaterhouse study estimated nine times less hardware cost • 23+ STS missions & leases for ~ $42m • Early successful space commerce startup company Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

A Propellant Depot increases our Payloads Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Build Frame & Add Tanks, PL 5 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

First Leg - Commercial EELV’s 6 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

7 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Shroud ID Larger Tanks on 4.5m Larger Vehicles 1.5 m • Now uses EELVs • Scaleable to 10 meters Shroud ID 10m • Larger tanks • Growth options • Commercial lunar transportation both ways • LTS helps evolution to transport nodes 3.25 m • Not starting transportation from zero • Start in LEO 8 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Two Way Highway To the Moon: Commercially Logistics Trade Route •Uses a fleet of two new reusable spacecraft - the Lunar Lander and the Propellant Transporter. Propellant •Uses a fleet of two new Lunar Lander Transporter expendable support spacecraft - a Payload Dispenser and a Propellant Dispenser. •Uses existing Expendable Launch Vehicles to transfer all spacecraft, propellants, and Payload Propellant payloads from the Earth to LEO. Dispenser Dispenser 9 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

We Are Unmanned & Need JPL • We try to evolve toward the most efficient vehicle on each on each leg of the trade route • Hauling unmanned, non-critical cargo • Strong communications & Robotic Technology • To / From moon, but early abandon our Vehicle • Use commercial financing & new markets • Unglamorous, innovative aerospace technology • Business with a profit, so we pay back investors • History of raising private money, previous $1.2B 10 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Autonomous Rendezvous and Docking • Cargo uses EELV’s • This cycle is already commercial • They find each other with a laser ranging system • Systems available and unmanned • 99% of the cargo could go on a non- critical affordable workhorse vehicles Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Rendezvous and Dock - LEO 13 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Space Truss from discarded Expandable Tube Truss Basic Transportation Frame Members w/ Assembled & Expanded Tubes Length 7 Times Rotate Up & the original Assemble LTS Discarded Hardware Rotate Down & Assemble Stowed Tanks Stowed for & Tubes Launch Rotate Legs LTS Basic Down & Assemble Transportation Frame After Tanks Unload 14 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Commercial Lunar Transport • 800 kgs to 10 Tons • Non-Critical Lunar Cargo Business • Commercial • Could be a PPP Privately Funded • Same Startup team as Kistler, SPACEHAB with a Cost Reduction Record • Color Video 18 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Commercial Logistics • Transport of non-essential cargo • Transport of odd shapes, over weight, • Transport & Assemble machines • Transport return cargo & future resources • Transport propellant to Lunar Orbit, beyond • Development of trade route facilities • Support logistics for company town • Support logistics - mining, resource develop 19 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Add Proposed Innovation • Reused tanks on Lunar surface • Recovery of the GOX Tanks & Hydrogen • Processing of the GOX, LOH • Reload propellant for the LTS vehicles • Building materials from by products • Other 21 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

One of Four Logistics Routes Logistics Routes 23 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Trade Routes Used to Develop Prudhoe Bay Energy Gaps in the Past The Senate Energy Committee is considering the largest construction project in the history of mankind. Natural Gas Pipeline is #5 Trade Route. 1. Barges 2. Air 3. Trucks 4. Pipeline 24 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Prudhoe Bay Oil Recovery • 280 mi north of Arctic Circle • Naval Petroleum Reserve • Developed in the early 1970’s • Started to pump oil in 1977 • $12 B in private Example risk capital up-front 25 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

18 other oil fields have emerged 26 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

10 Lessons Learned Prudhoe Bay, AK 1. No single transportation or logistics system worked all the time Have 2 systems 2. No single logistics system offered the affordability for all materials Have 2 systems 3. Sometimes you need something quick! Freq 4. The labor intensive work is done in the lower labor cost area and transported assembled to the high labor cost area when possible. ? 5. Some packing crates were used for a second purpose, because they were available. Design with reusability in mind 27 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

6. Once a logistics system is created, commerce ﬂourishes Tourists came before oil ﬂow 7. Even equipment used in transportation needs to have a second use at the destination Tanks for storage volumes 8. Tooling/fasteners standardized for second use opportunities 9. Parts to be assembled on the slope mis-mark Use good Bar Codes & plug/play 10. Arctic engineering & construction are different than regular construction Start Lunar engineering design courses in schools 28 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

NS Lessons for Lunar Explorers • $12 B was up-front hard to get private money and was minimized at every decision by the four big oil companies • Most of the development money spent to date was from oil proﬁts after the oil started to be pumped in 1977-8 • At least 99% of the tonnage shipped to Alaska was unmanned ﬁnished Buildings on a barge & connected into large factories • Different transportation vehicles were used to transport unmanned cargo at ~ $0.01/lb and humans at ~ $5.00/lb. • Logistics increases in importance the further you get from your supply point. • The tonnage or mass into the site was exceeded by the mass out the pipeline in approx. 90 days. I estimate 90% of the mass used was already on the slope. Living off the Land is important. 29 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Robotic Crew Pod • 24/7 Crew • 24/7 Earth Support • EVA on Demand • Assembly Robots • Propulsion & RCS • Habitation • Propellant Resupply • Used on SBSP + ? • LEO Based SSP unit 30 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Solar Cell Transport & Assembly Space Based Solar Crewed Robotic Pod Power Demo Assembly In LEO Truss Units Crewed Robotic Pod From Discarded LTS Racks Solar Arrays Robotic Tug Truss Units From Discarded LTS Racks 31 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Conclusions • Innovation is Possible, Come work in the future • LTS needs JPL Robotics and Communications • It can contribute to Real Cost Reduction - SBSP • Commerce brings down the cost of Space Opns • Get a Good Education, Start Early & Often • List your ﬁve year goals every year on paper • You will probably work in more than one industry during your life, so Be an Information Sponge • If you want to work in space you live in the best country in the World for that. 32 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Backup Slides Tom Taylor Email: taylort@mac.com http://www.lunartransportationsystems.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Y5w0vqtIU Go to the above www.youtube.com website for an LTS 7 Minute Video on the Lunar Transportation Systems Concept. 33 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Propellant Dispenser Assembly 34 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

How To Raise A $ Billion • Key to developing resources is to do it with OPM (other peoples money) – Must be a viable customer with $ – Time frame for payback must be reasonable – Return must be proportional to the risk – Management team with track record is important – Glitz will sell if done properly – A Major Aerospace Company must be a partner 35 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

Dragline Processing Reuse of LTS Vehicle Frame Facility Processed Regolith Dragline Bucket Reused Tanks for Processing Living Volumes in Reused Dragline Back Tanks Haul Lines to a Movable Anchor Vertical Shaft Capability as Req’d 37 19 Nov 08 Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.

AAS National Conference 2008: Thomas C. Taylor

0 comments

Notes on slide 1

Favorites, Groups & Events