Swan, and 5 co-authors, report that in their International Space Elevator Conference research they concluded that the reality is that when humanity decides to go to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, there will be a tremendous need for logistics support [mission support equipment] as well as the transportation of people [especially at low cost and routine/daily]. The question on ISEC's table is: How do the strengths of space elevators enable missions to the Moon and Mars. The authors have concluded that it should be obvious that a permanent human presence only becomes possible after moving some 14 metric tons of payload x 6 Apex Anchors daily with 14-hour transit times to the Moon (Initial Operational Capability -IOC- is 14 MT around 2035 with Full Operational Capability-FOC- of 85 MT by 2050).
Of course, there will be a need for trajectory corrections and landing deceleration propulsion [also needed by rocket-driven missions]; so, fuel and rockets will be required as part of the 14 metric tons at IOC. However, 14 metric tons delivered daily, routinely and safely towards Moon (and or to Mars) is an immense capability. This problem, to the Moon, can be defined and discussed pretty easily. Missions to Mars need to be analyzed to show non-traditional (non-Holman Transfer) orbital options with high energy, fast transit characteristics. The puzzle is how to best support Mars missions with our tremendous need for daily and massive movement [14 MT x 6 or so per day].
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