Space elevator economics

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Space elevator economics compares the cost of sending a payload into Earth orbit via a space elevator with the cost of doing so with alternatives, like rockets.

Contents

Costs of current systems (rockets)

The costs of using a well-tested system to launch payloads are high. The main cost comes from the components of the launch system that are not intended to be reused, which normally burn up in the atmosphere or are sent to graveyard orbits. Even when reusing components, there is often a high refurbishment cost. [1] For geostationary transfer orbits, prices are as low as about US$11,300/kg for a Falcon Heavy or Falcon 9 launch. [2] [3] [4] Costs of low Earth orbit launches are significantly less, but this is not the intended orbit for a space elevator.

Proposed cost reductions

Various adaptations of the conventional rocket design have been proposed to reduce the cost. Several are currently in development, like the SpaceX Starship. An aspirational price for this fully reusable launch vehicle is $10 per kilogram ($4.5/lb), significantly cheaper than most proposed space elevators. [5] New Glenn is also currently in development, a partially reusable rocket that promises to reduce price. However, an exact cost per launch has not been specified. [6] Others, like the Sea Dragon and Roton have failed to get sufficient funding. The Space Shuttle promised a large cost reduction, but financially underperformed due to the extensive refurbishment costs needed after every launch. [1]

Cost estimates for a space elevator

For a space elevator, the cost varies according to the design. Bradley C. Edwards received funding from NIAC from 2001 to 2003 to write a paper, [7] describing a space elevator design. In it he stated that: "The first space elevator would reduce lift costs immediately to $100 per pound" ($220/kg). [8] [9]

The gravitational potential energy of any object in geosynchronous orbit (GEO), relative to Earth's surface, is about 50 MJ (15 kWh) of energy per kilogram (see geosynchronous orbit for details). Using wholesale electricity prices for 2008 to 2009, and the current 0.5% efficiency of power beaming, a space elevator would require US$220/kg just in electrical costs. Dr. Edwards expects technical advances to increase the efficiency to 2%. [10] [11]

However, due to the fact that space elevators would have a limited throughput as only a few payloads could climb the tether at any one time, the launch price may be subject to market forces.

Funding of capital costs

According to a paper presented at the 55th International Astronautical Congress [12] in Vancouver in October 2004, the space elevator can be considered a prestige megaproject whose current estimated cost (US$6.2 billion) is favourable compared to other megaprojects e.g. bridges, pipelines, tunnels, tall towers, high-speed rail links and maglevs. Costs are also favourable compared to that of other aerospace systems and launch vehicles. [13]

Total cost of a privately funded Edwards' Space Elevator

A space elevator built according to the Edwards proposal is estimated to have total cost of about $40 billion (that figure includes $1.56 billions operational costs for first 10 years). Subsequent space elevators are estimated to cost only $14.3 billion each. [14]

For comparison, in potentially the same time frame as the elevator:

See also

Related Research Articles

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Interplanetary spaceflight or interplanetary travel is the crewed or uncrewed travel between stars and planets, usually within a single planetary system. In practice, spaceflights of this type are confined to travel between the planets of the Solar System. Uncrewed space probes have flown to all the observed planets in the Solar System as well as to dwarf planets Pluto and Ceres, and several asteroids. Orbiters and landers return more information than fly-by missions. Crewed flights have landed on the Moon and have been planned, from time to time, for Mars, Venus and Mercury. While many scientists appreciate the knowledge value that uncrewed flights provide, the value of crewed missions is more controversial. Science fiction writers propose a number of benefits, including the mining of asteroids, access to solar power, and room for colonization in the event of an Earth catastrophe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single-stage-to-orbit</span> Launch system that only uses one rocket stage

A single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle reaches orbit from the surface of a body using only propellants and fluids and without expending tanks, engines, or other major hardware. The term usually, but not exclusively, refers to reusable vehicles. To date, no Earth-launched SSTO launch vehicles have ever been flown; orbital launches from Earth have been performed by either fully or partially expendable multi-stage rockets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reusable launch vehicle</span> Vehicles that can go to space and return

A reusable launch vehicle has parts that can be recovered and reflown, while carrying payloads from the surface to outer space. Rocket stages are the most common launch vehicle parts aimed for reuse. Smaller parts such as rocket engines and boosters can also be reused, though reusable spacecraft may be launched on top of an expendable launch vehicle. Reusable launch vehicles do not need to make these parts for each launch, therefore reducing its launch cost significantly. However, these benefits are diminished by the cost of recovery and refurbishment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skylon (spacecraft)</span> Single-stage-to-orbit spaceplane

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A momentum exchange tether is a kind of space tether that could theoretically be used as a launch system, or to change spacecraft orbits. Momentum exchange tethers create a controlled force on the end-masses of the system due to the pseudo-force known as centrifugal force. While the tether system rotates, the objects on either end of the tether will experience continuous acceleration; the magnitude of the acceleration depends on the length of the tether and the rotation rate. Momentum exchange occurs when an end body is released during the rotation. The transfer of momentum to the released object will cause the rotating tether to lose energy, and thus lose velocity and altitude. However, using electrodynamic tether thrusting, or ion propulsion the system can then re-boost itself with little or no expenditure of consumable reaction mass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falcon 9</span> Orbital launch vehicle by SpaceX

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Bradley C. Edwards is an American physicist who has been involved in the development of the space elevator concept.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falcon Heavy</span> Orbital launch vehicle made by SpaceX

Falcon Heavy is a partially reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle that can carry cargo into Earth orbit, and beyond. It is designed, manufactured and launched by American aerospace company SpaceX.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX launch vehicles</span> Launch vehicles developed and operated by SpaceX

SpaceX manufactures launch vehicles to operate its launch provider services and to execute its various exploration goals. SpaceX currently manufactures and operates the Falcon 9 Full Thrust family of medium-lift launch vehicles and the Falcon Heavy family of heavy-lift launch vehicles – both of which powered by SpaceX Merlin engines and employing VTVL technologies to reuse the first stage. As of 2023, the company is also developing the fully reusable Starship launch system, which will replace the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX reusable launch system development program</span> Effort by SpaceX to make rockets that can fly multiple times

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX Starship</span> Reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle

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References

  1. 1 2 Grush, Loren (24 December 2015). "SpaceX's reusable rockets will make space cheaper – but how much?". The Verge . Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "Capabilities and Services" (PDF). SpaceX.com. SpaceX. Retrieved 4 February 2021. Falcon 9: $62M for 5.5 metric tons. Falcon Heavy: $90M for up to 8 metric tons.
  3. ↑ Sheetz, Michael (February 12, 2018). "Elon Musk says the new SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket crushes its competition on cost". CNBC.
  4. ↑ "The economics of interface transportation". 2003. Retrieved 2006-03-05.
  5. ↑ Zafar, Ramish (8 May 2020). "SpaceX Could Bring Starship Launch Costs Down To $10/kg Believes Musk". Wccftech. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "New Glenn". Blue Origin . Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  7. ↑ Bradley Edwards (1 Mar 2003). "NIAC Phase II study". Eureka Scientific.
  8. ↑ "2nd Annual International Space Elevator Conference held in Santa Fe New Mexico". September 24, 2003. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  9. ↑ "What is the Space Elevator?". Institute for Scientific Research, Inc. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2006-03-05.
  10. ↑ Bradley C. Edwards, Eric A. Westling (November 2003). The Space Elevator: A Revolutionary Earth-to-Space Transportation System . Spageo Incorporated. ISBN   0-9726045-0-2.
  11. ↑ Bradley C. Edwards, Philip Ragan (October 2006). Leaving the Planet by Space Elevator. Lulu.com. ISBN   978-1-4303-0006-9.
  12. ↑ "55th International Astronautical Congress". Institute for Scientific Research, Inc. Retrieved 2006-03-05.
  13. ↑ Raitt, David; Bradley Edwards. "THE SPACE ELEVATOR: ECONOMICS AND APPLICATIONS" (PDF). 55th International Astronautical Congress 2004 - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. IAC-04-IAA.3.8.3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-03-16. Retrieved 2006-03-05.
  14. 1 2 Bradley Edwards (2003). "11: Budget Estimates". The Space Elevator. Archived from the original on 2018-01-14. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  15. ↑ J.L. Scott-Scott; M. Harrison & A.D. Woodrow (2003). "Considerations for Passenger Transport by Advanced Spaceplanes" (PDF). Journal of the British Interplanetary Society. 56: 118–126. Bibcode:2003JBIS...56..118S. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-19.
  16. ↑ Bradley Edwards (2003). "7: Destinations". The Space Elevator. Archived from the original on 2018-01-14. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  17. ↑ "Five things to know about Elon Musk's space projects". Phys.org. February 6, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2018-02-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ↑ "Falcon 1 Overview". SpaceX. Archived from the original on 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  20. ↑ Dinkin, Sam (October 9, 2017). "Estimating the cost of BFR". The Space Review.
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