SEVEN ELEMENTS

STAGE 1 THREE STAGES

SHUTTLE EXTERNAL TANK

3 4

5 7 6

1 2

STAGE 2

5 7 6

STAGE 3

REUSABLE EXTERNAL TANK

7

Aerospike
Engine
Aerial Recovery Downrange
Recovery proceeds in a manner similar to the Corona (KH-4) satellite series. A recovery aircraft loiters
downrange from the launch center, and snags the booster as it is gliding to its downrange entry point.
The aircraft then tows the glider back to the launch center for release and recovery on a runway

CIA Drawing USAF Photo

M2-F1 Lifting body behind a R4D “Gooney

Bird”, with the nose positioned high. This
method of aerial recovery and release was well
worked out by 1959

NASA Photo
Inflatable Optics
Very lightweight optics using thin film elements provide a means to focus sunlight to very high intensity.
This reduces the cost per watt, and the mass per watt generated on orbit substantially.

NASA Photo

Each metric ton on orbit intercepts 67,000 sq
meters of sunlight. Concentrated 20,000x, each
ton requires only 33 sq meters of PV area. The
weight of the film dominates
The launcher described here places 200 metric
tons into GEO with recovery of ALL
components. Complete recovery of
components radically reduces costs and
shortens time between launch.
300 metric tons on GEO with this technology is
sufficient to intercept 20 square kilometers of
solar energy. This is large enough to generate
12 GW of laser energy continuously for buyers
at a cost of 1/30th of a cent per kilowatt-hour.
1,000 satellites each one 5 km in diameter,
placed 72 km apart in GEO provide continuous
power to any point on Earth’s surface.