This particular model shows, as expected, that producing capital with lunar resources does reduce the cost of transporting materials into space. More importantly it shows that “bootstrapping” can reduce the time needed to assemble a space manufacturing facility using a given fleet. Bootstrapping utilizes a given fleet more efficiently. True bootstrapping would be even more attractive than this simplified strategy since it would postpone many of the costs and start delivering benefits much sooner. Furthermore, bootstrapping would decrease research time and risk by transferring more development to the productive phase of operations. This computer model should be useful in exploring the effect of bootstrapping the development of a space economy with a variety of products. It can yield insight into the results of incorporation research and development into the growth phase. The specific model (SPS) analyzed in this work required very fast deployment rates which precluded “learning while doing.” In addition, the computer program used in this analysis should be expanded to handle the time value of investments in research and development (RND) and initialization costs (INT) in a more realistic manner. Acknowledgement — This work was conducted in part at the Lunar & Planetary Institute (LPI) under NASA grant NRS09-051-001 (mod #24). This is Lunar & Planetary Institute Contribution #440. Mr. Goldberg performed his work during a visiting undergraduate intern appointment at the LPI. Dr. Criswell was supported in part by the LPI and the California Space Institute of the University of California. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the criticisms and assistance provided by Dr. P. Vajk (Science Applications Inc.) and Dr. Bob Risley (General Dynamics Corp.). REFERENCES 1. H. Allaway, The Space Shuttle at Work, NSAS-SP-432, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1979. 2. H.P. Davis, Recent Developments in the Space Transportation System for the Solar Power Satellite, Space Solar Power Review 1, 375-381, 1980. 3. H. Kolm, K. Fine, P. Mongeau, and F. Williams, Electromagnetic Propulsion Alternatives, in Space Manufacturing 3, J. Grey and C. Krop, eds., pp. 299-306, AIAA #79-24359, Am. Inst. Aeronautics and Astronautics, NY, 1979. 4. P. Graneau, Self-Energized Superconducting Mass Driver for Space Launching, in Proceedings of the Conference on Electromagnetic Guns and Launchers (preprint) (San Diego, CA; 4-6 November 1980), Vol. 2, 26-0 to 26-24, Dept. Army, U.S. Armament, R. & D. Command, Dover, NJ (J.A. Bennett/code amm/4292, in preparation for publication. 5. NASA SP-428, Space Resources and Space Settlements (Study Director G.K. O'Neill) J. Billingham, W. Gilbreath and B.J. O'Leary, eds., U.S. Government Printing Office (0-293-364), Washington, DC, 1979. 6. G.K. O'Neill. The Colonization of Space, Physics Today 27, 32-40, 1974. 7. D.R. Criswell, Space Solar Power Review 1, 155-162, 1980. 8. D.R. Criswell and R.D. Waldron, Commercial Prospects for Extraterrestrial Materials, J. Contemporary Business 7, 153-170, 1978. 9. RD. Waldron, T.E. Erstfeld and D.R. Criswell. The Role of Chemical Engineering in Space Manufacturing, Chemical Engineering, pp. 80-94, McGraw-Hill, NY, 1979. 10. D.R. Criswell (program director). Extraterrestrial Materials Processing and Construction (Final Report), contract NSR-09-051-001 (mod #24), Lunar & Planetary Inst., Houston, TX, 1980. 11. R. Miller (principal investigator), Extraterrestrial Processing and Manufacturing of Large Space Structures, NASA contract #NAS8-32935/contract report #C 12-161293, vols. I and II, Mass. Inst. Technol., Cambridge, MA, 1979. 12. E. Bock, Lunar Resource Utilization for Space Construction (Final Report— 3 volumes), NASA contract #NAS9-15560, General Dynamics Corp., San Diego, CA, 1979. 13. G.K. O'Neill, G. Driggers and B. O'Leary, New Routes to Manufacturing in Space, Astronautics & Aeronautics, pp. 46-51, 1980. 14. J.H. Engel and J.P. Vajk, Start-Up Considerations for a Space Manufacturing Enterprise, Space Manufacturing 3, J. Grey and C. Krop, eds., pp. 245-255, AIAA #79-24359, Am. Inst. Aeronautics and Astronautics, NY, 1979. 15. Walter Nicholson, Microeconomic Theory, Chap. 17, The Dryden Press, 1978. 16. R.U. Ayres, L.W. Ayres and D.R. Criswell, Economic Considerations in Space Industrialization, Space Manufacturing 3, J. Grey and C. Krop, eds., pp. 209-221, AIAA #79-24359, Am. Inst. Aeronautics and Astronautics, NY, 1979.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==