Using Concrete to build space ships...

--- In ssi_list@... "victoriatangoman"

> You may say that you'll use a high efficiency Ion Engine with a
> high ISP. OK. Where will you get 56,400 tons of Xenon? From Earth.
> You'll have to launch it from Earth and now you're once again
> confronted with the Rocket Equation. Your Xenon payload, on a
> rocket powered with LO2/H2 will be only 10% of the GLOW (GROSS
> LIFT-OFF WEIGHT) at best.

How many launches will you need to launch 56,000 tons of Xenon to
LEO?

If you use the Atlas V, you'll need over 2,500 launchs.

Of course you're free to use other vehicles - I just chose the Atlas
V because it was convenient.

Here is the data for the Atlas V:
http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/atlasv.htm

Here is data for other launch vehicles, so that you can chose one
that is more appropriate to your mission:
http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/orbindex.htm

How much air will have to liquified to extract the Xenon and how
much will it cost? Here is a quick and dirty reference:
http://www.ktf-split.hr/periodni/en/xe.html
http://www.chemistry.pomona.edu/Chemistry/periodic_table/Elements/Xen
on/xenon.htm

TangoMan