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Lagrange point colonization

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Lagrange point colonization is a proposed form of space colonization[1] of the five equilibrium points in the orbit of a planet or its primary moon, called Lagrange points. The most obvious such points for colonization are those in the Earth–Moon and in the Sun–Earth systems. Although it would generally take days or weeks to reach the latter with current technology, it would be possible to generate energy from sunlight at them nearly continuously since they would, due to their considerable distance from Earth, be shaded from the Sun only seldom and then only shortly.

Earth–Moon

 
A diagram showing the five Lagrange points in a two-body system, with one body far more massive than the other (e.g. Earth and Moon). In this system L3–L5 will appear to share the secondary's orbit, although they are situated slightly outside it.

The only two stable Lagrange points are L4 and L5. Lagrange points are stable if the mass of the larger body is at least 25 times the mass of the secondary body.[2][3] The Earth is over 81 times the mass of the Moon.[4] The L5 Society was founded to promote settlement by building space stations at these points in the Earth Moon system.

An L1 station would have a number of important functions due to its stationary position between the Earth and Moon. It is in an excellent ___location to monitor and coordinate communications among various missions on the nearside of the Moon. A vessel launched from L1 could reach any place on the Moon within a few hours to a day. This would make it ideal for crisis management if an emergency occurred on the Moon. Furthermore, it could serve as a way station, especially once built up, and would probably be used to handle tourists and casual visitors to the Moon. A station like this could also serve as a repair center for ships moving throughout the Solar System.

The L2 point, on the far side of the Moon, is completely shielded from Earth by the Moon so radio telescopes placed there would receive much less interference than existing telescopes. Of course, since the Moon is tidally locked, any colony on the far side of the Moon has this same benefit; a lunar facility, however, would suffer from Moonquakes.

Both L1 and L2 require active stationkeeping since neither is fully stable (they are saddle points on the energy landscape). Colonies at the L4 and L5 positions would have the advantage of being stable without any need for stationkeeping, and could be used as a waypoint for travel to and from cislunar space.

In addition, they would significantly reduce the delta-v (velocity change) needed to move from one to another, or to enter or leave Earth orbit, an important drawback of any lunar surface station, which demands high energy expenditure to escape and a comparable or greater amount to soft-land.

Sun–Earth

 
Contour lines of the effective potential illustrate the five Lagrange points of the Sun–Earth system

The L1 position is useful for solar observations since it is near Earth but in constant sunlight. It could also be useful for collecting solar power. Conversely, the L2 point is perpetually in the shadow of Earth, and as such offers a prime ___location for observing the outer planets or deep space. L4 and L5 colonies could be used as waypoints in space travel, to expand the practical launch window for travel to and from Earth and the other planets. These positions are useful for colonies as they are stable without any need for stationkeeping.

See also

References

  1. ^ Dorminey, Bruce (July 31, 2012). "Death Of A Sci-Fi Dream: Free-Floating Space Colonies Hit Economic Reality". Forbes. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  2. ^ Fitzpatrick, Richard. "Stability of Lagrange Points". Newtonian Dynamics. University of Texas.
  3. ^ Greenspan, Thomas (January 7, 2014). "Stability of the Lagrange Points, L4 and L5" (PDF).
  4. ^ Pitjeva, E.V.; Standish, E.M. (April 1, 2009). "Proposals for the masses of the three largest asteroids, the Moon-Earth mass ratio and the Astronomical Unit". Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy. 103 (4): 365–372. Bibcode:2009CeMDA.103..365P. doi:10.1007/s10569-009-9203-8.

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