posted on Jun, 15 2009 @ 11:12 PM
reply to post by jkrog08
Oh yeah?
Well here is the 'Tanker'
Method of Delivering Lunar Generated Fluid
to Earth Orbit Using an External Tank
Publication number: US5092545
Publication date: 1992-03-03
Inventor: BUTTERFIELD ANSEL J (US); GOSLEE JOHN W (US)
Applicant: NASA (US)
Lunar Generated Fluid Cargo Transport
ABSTRACT
A method and apparatus are provided for delivering lunar generated fluid to Earth orbit from lunar orbit. Transport takes place in an external tank of
a shuttle which has been suitably outfitted in Earth orbit for reusable travel between Earth orbit and a lunar orbit. The outfitting of the external
tank includes the adding of an engine, an electrical system, a communication system, a guidance system, an aerobraking device, and a plurality of
interconnected fluid storage tanks to the hydrogen and oxygen tanks of the external tank. The external tank is then propelled to lunar orbit the first
time using Earth based propellant. In lunar orbit, the storage tanks are filled with the lunar generated fluid with the remainder tank volumes filled
with lunar generated liquid oxygen and hydrogen which serve as propellants for returning the tank to Earth orbit where the fluid is off-loaded. The
remaining lunar generated oxygen and hydrogen is then sufficient to return the external tank to lunar orbit so that a subsequent cycle of fluid
delivery is repeated. A space station in a higher Earth orbit is preferably used to outfit the external tank, and a lunar node in lunar orbit is used
to store and transfer the fluid and liquid oxygen and hydrogen to the external tank. The lunar generated fluid is preferably 3He.
SOURCE
The lunar generated fluid is preferably 3He
Ask me some time to tell you the story of the Aqila Cargo Transport... you would get a kick out of it