A Solar-Powered Near Earth Object Resource Extractor
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Author(s)
Rangedera, Thilini
Vanmali, Ravi
Shah, Nilesh
Zaidi, Waqar
Komerath, Narayanan Menon
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Abstract
This paper is an offshoot of a project to study means of forming massive radiationshielded
structures using Near Earth Object (NEO) materials. The topic is the conceptual
design of a solar-powered robotic craft to land on, attach to, and extract materials from, a
typical NEO. A solar-powered trajectory to a candidate NEO is used to estimate
requirements. A reconfigurable solar sail / collector is the primary propulsion and power
source for the craft. Following a journey of nearly 5 years, the craft will use a unique
pulsed plasmajet torque-hammer concept to attach to the NEO. The basic cutting tool
element is a solar-powered Neodymium fiber laser beam sheathed in a plasma jet,
expanded through a truncated aerospike nozzle. Two telescoping, rotating arms carrying
a total of 60 such nozzles at the ends of "fingers" enable the craft to dig and "float" out
NEO material at a rate adequate to build a 50m diameter, 50m-long, 2m thick, walled
cylinder within 19 days. The system is also amenable to applications requiring excavation
of a large mass of near-surface material for resource processing. The present design
appears to close with a total payload to LEO of 37,500 kg, with a total mass of 30,000 kg
including the sail/collector at earth escape. The primary consumables on the system are
the plasma gas for cutting and maneuvering, and electrodes of the plasma cutters.
Sponsor
AIAA Space Systems Technical Committee ; AIAA Space Transportation Systems Technical Committee ; Space Technology Advanced Research Center
Date
2005-11-10
Extent
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Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Presentation