Concept and cost analysis of an orbiting lunar station

A orbiting lunar station project whose main tasks are spacecraft refueling and transport of goods is described. The station is part of a transportation system aimed at bringing Moon-made goods into geostationary orbit. The station elements and its progressive growth over a lifetime of 50 yr were analyzed. A cost model was developed for every year of the lifetime through a BASIC program, and a sensitivity study was carried out. Cost is $20 billion (1980).