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决定未来空间命运的最主要因素大概是输送费用问题。象包括把大规模太阳能卫星送往同步轨道的计划在内的“空间工业化”之类的任务尤其是如此。虽然输送费用的主要部分可认为是由到达低地球轨道的初级火箭造成的,但在许多情况下转送载荷和人员到外轨道上的花费将是惊人的。本文展望了可用于后一情况的技术选择,且着重谈到了大而长时间的计划项目(如太阳能卫星)。其结论是,化学推进系统用于输送人员将是必需的,但产生高比冲的电推进系统用于转送非特殊载荷时会提供巨大的经济效益。
The most important factor that determines the fate of the future space is probably the issue of transportation costs. This is particularly so for tasks such as “industrialization of space”, including plans to send large-scale solar satellites to orbit. While a substantial part of the cost of transport can be thought of as being caused by primary rockets that reach low Earth orbit, in many cases the cost of transferring payloads and personnel to orbit will be staggering. This article looks at the technology options that can be used in the latter case, highlighting large and long-term planning projects such as solar satellites. The conclusion is that a chemical propulsion system will be necessary for transporting people, but an electric propulsion system that generates a high specific impulse will provide enormous economic benefits when transferring non-special loads.