Space Transportation - mmmt_transportation.pdf - Moon Society

On the Moon, once there are two settlements of rival size, interdependent traffic between them will be
relatively strong no matter how far apart they are (3,392 miles max, one half lunar circumference.) And there will be
no real alternative, aviation being out of consideration.
NOT FOR EVERYWHERE & NOT SOON
The Interchute is a much more specialized transportation system than are railroads. Nor would realization of
this dream be a down payment on “general aviation” in any sort of
form realizable on the Moon:
1. Interchute loops, of whatever length and frequency of use, will require a very large capital investment.
2. The further two potential terminals are apart in terms of real alternative road travel time, the greater the time
savings and the stronger the incentive to build an Interchute.
3. Towns a few hours apart by good highway would not be good candidates no matter how much mutual traffic they
generated. High speed rail (see MM Review #13, AUG 13, pp. 9-15 “Lunar Railroads”) or Maglev would be the Choice.
http://www.moonsociety.org/publications/mmm_papers/rr_moon.htm
Interchutes will be a travel option on the Moon some generations down the road, when and if the lunar
frontier economy fully develops to its full potential, which is considerable.
MMM #122 - February 1999
Artemis Project Lunar Ascent Vehicle aka the “Space Motorcycle”
Illustrations by Vik Olliver
Note: NASA has since met this concept “halfway”
By reducing the structure lifting off the Moon, and hence minimizing its mass, to the Lunar Lander “airlock”
and by thus minimizing the mass returning from the Moon’s surface, the amount of mass and structure that can be
left on the Moon is increased by that same amount.
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