Magnetosphere

• https://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/educational/MagnetosphereWebPage.php

• Bow shock approximately 90,000 km, highly variable

• The bow shock distance drops below 10 Re many times per year.

One Sidereal Day Construction orbit and associated plumes

A 1 sidereal day construction orbit with a perigee radius of 8378 km ( 6378 + 2000 ) and an apogee radius of 75950 km ( 2*42164 - 8378 ) has an apogee of 11.9 Re. Retrograde plumes for apogee orbit insertion will all orbit above the bow shock (and be exposed to the proton flux of the solar wind) many times per year. Two relevant related orbits will be a launch orbit from a perigee radius of 6458 km, and a HEEO to GEO/Laplace transfer orbit with a perigee radius of 42164 km (Ignoring J₂ gravitational effects):

A rocket launch plume is almost entirely deposited in the atmosphere (a huge waste of energy and propellant, which is why launch loop is attractive ... if it is practical). No permanent plume problem (except for maneuvering and plane change thrust) so it will not be considered further. The other three Delta V's might cause permanent plume problems, let's find out: