Anchored lunar satellites for cislunar transportation and communication

The concept is examined of anchored lunar satellites, balanced about the collinear libration points L1 and L2 of the earth-moon system and attached to the lunar surface. The design parameters of such satellites are examined by applying the equations of the restricted three-body problem; the material strengths required are within those of available composite materials. Anchored lunar satellites could launch lunar materials throughout cislunar space electrically for 0.75 kilowatt-hour per kilogram, could provide essentially continuous lunar farside communications without stationkeeping propellants, and could supply a lunar base without lunar landing rockets.