Cislunar Space

 

 

Cislunar space is the area around the Earth extending out to just beyond the Moon’s orbit, and including all of the five Lagrangian points that are stable in position in reference to the Earth and Moon as they rotate about each other. For transport purposes, the two L-points close to and in line with the Moon, L1 and L2, are the most important. L1 is always in front of the Moon and L2 is always behind the Moon, each by roughly 60,000 kilometers. Being in what are essentially zero gravity locations, no reentry shells or landing legs are needed for vehicles to visit a station placed there. Even large objects placed there, in gentle halo orbits, can be kept there with minimal propellant use for station-keeping.

Source: The Space Review  – Monday, October 1, 2012

 

The cislunar gateway with no gate  by John K. Strickland