Early lunar resource utilization - A key to human exploration

Lunar exploration attempts have suffered from high projected costs of spaceflight hardware development and production. A method of reducing these costs is proposed: the utilization of propellant produced on the moon at program inception. This technique permits down-sizing of the required transportation systems and should enable lunar missions using a single STS-derived launch vehicle. The technical feasibility of this concept has been validated by preliminary space transportation and surface system design efforts. The required technologies emphasize electric surface vehicles, automation and robotics, and reliable chemical processing. Cost assessments were performed and compared to estimates based on a lunar exploration scheme to evaluate the effectiveness of this strategy. Results indicate that early production and utilization of lunar propellant leads to lower hardware development costs, lower cost uncertainties, and a reduction in human transportation costs of approximately fifty percent.