Establishing a base on the moon requires efficient deployment of payload to the moon. For this task the reusable first and second stage rockets I proposed can be used. They effectively allow large diameter and irregular shaped loads to be deployed on the earth orbit. The lunar transporter would be the payload of this rocket.
The lunar transporter will be powered by mercury ion thrusters. Mercury has a higher ISP than the Xenon gas and it is much cheaper. Also, their storage tank would be much lighter than a pressurized gas tank. The lunar transporter will be initially deployed to the sun synchronous orbit. There, it will extend its large solar panels and using continuous solar energy run its ion thrusters at the maximum efficiency. As the transporter increase its speed, it will move away from the earth. Once it reaches the escape velocity, it will perform the trans-lunar injection maneuver. The mercury will be stored in multiple tanks which are placed in the middle of the transporter. The consumed tanks will be ejected to reduce weight. The thrusters will be placed outside and will remain in place. Well-designed tanks will have no mercury left inside and safely burn on the earth’s atmosphere.
When the lunar transporter approaches the moon, the ion thrusters will be used to decelerate the transporter. In the last minute of the touchdown solid boosters will be fired to decelerate the transporter further. The combinational thrust system will allow more precise and smoother landing.
The lunar transporter will have a cone head which houses a rotating antenna and has the control motors to rotate the solar panels to acquire maximum solar energy. Free rotating solar panels will also allow the transporter to get maximum power on the surface of the moon. The hollow section, ejected mercury tanks void, below the payload bay of the transporter can be used as a storage space that is protected against the cosmic rays.
The reason I choose Ion thruster over liquid rocket is their much higher ISP which suits well for high energy missions.
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