LUNAR CAROUSEL L2C Concept of an Efficient Transportation System for Industrial Lunar Development

ABSTRACT A concept for a modular lunar logistics system, “Lunar Carousel L²C,” is presented. It is based on reusability, modularity, and distributed international participation. The architecture uses two specialized ion/electric space tugs operating as a relay: an Earth tug transfers a standardized cargo container to an intermediate handoff point (~120,000 km from Earth), where a lunar tug takes over and delivers it to lunar orbit. A key feature is the joint thrusting of both tugs before separation, followed by low-Δv phasing (“active waiting”) to approach a favorable capture geometry with the Moon. A transparent concept cost-and-cadence model (with assumptions and calculations provided in the preprint) indicates that, at industrial throughput, the cost of delivery to lunar orbit could be reduced to ~$15,000–25,000 per kilogram, i.e., an order-of-magnitude reduction relative to commonly cited present-day estimates. A sensitivity check and an operational sizing recommendation (including a 25% xenon contingency reserve) are discussed to reflect model uncertainty and operational realities. The system is designed to be compatible with major launch vehicles and to scale in phases, from early demonstrations to sustained logistics. The core contribution is the route architecture and scheduling approach that shifts lunar access from isolated missions toward regular, industrial-scale transportation. Keywords: lunar logistics, cislunar transportation, electric propulsion, reusable systems, orbital relay, scheduling, industrial lunar development