Granting the real possibility of delivering a Solo, Deep Space Vehicle to LEO with a “Falcon-1” launch vehicle, the “Way Forward” is much simpler than might be assumed. The payload of the “Falcon-1e”, at 1000kg, is sufficient to carry a typical astronaut, with his/her life support equipment and a lightweight reentry system, not only to GEO altitude, but also around the Moon and back to Earth! The third stage propulsion can be produced using motors and propellant tanks Micro-Space already has in stock. Other entrepreneurs have also demonstrated adequate motors for “Trans Lunar Injection”, some using the storable fuels preferred. But the extra orbital angular momentum required to Rendezvous with a satellite in GEO makes getting there harder than a loop around the Moon. The return is also complicated, but Delta V for that leg can be reduced by passing around the Moon on the way back. Since, as with most everything in space, stage masses scale nearly linearly with Payload Mass, selecting a “compact astronaut” makes a GEO service mission feasible with the Falcon-1e.

Micro-Space and others have already demonstrated the lightweight life support equipment required. A number of adventurers have demonstrated comparable duration activities with similarly minimal “accommodations” and comparable risks, even without a multi million dollar $$$ bonus waiting at the end! The main technological barrier to launching tomorrow is the lack of a proven reentry system. Aerobraking into earth orbit, and rendezvous with a space station, is a possibility and can further reduce the vehicle mass flying above LEO, but that process has more risk and today would require coordination with space station owners who have shown no interest in cooperating!

Adequate reentry shield materials are easy to come by (the Chinese once used Oak wood successfully) but lab testing will be an unavoidable need. Entrepreneurs who have tried to use “National Labs” for tests have found that effort frustrating, very expensive and often unproductive. Entrepreneurial sources for appropriate testing are going to be necessary. Fortunately, such tests for reentry materials are not all that difficult to arrange – as I will detail next week – and could be offered by any entrepreneur who has produced a smooth running liquid fuel rocket motor of 200 to 500 pounds thrust, and has a good place to run static firing of that motor.