The creation of gas stations is space aims to
eliminate the paradigm of single use spacecraft
thanks to space refueling. The Orbit Fab company,
founded in 2018, launched the first commercial fuel
depot to LEO and, in October, Blue Origin the company
of billionaire Jeff Bezos announced its idea to create
an orbital tanker network.
Blue Origin’s project aims to develop tankers that
permanently orbit the Moon so that rockets can stop
and refuel at these modules. To accomplish this, they
are working on the creation of a spaceship called
“Cislunar Transporter’, which will carry the fuel from
Earth to the orbital tanker.
The space modules, which will be no larger than 20
meters, will be launched empty to the moon, where
they will be put in position. Once the mothership
refuels them, they will remain in orbit until Blue
Origin’s rockets need to refuel. Since the modules are
reusable, they will only return to our planet at the end
of their lifespans or when they need repairs.
Currently, Orbit Fab’s RAFTI refueling port has
become the industry standard and they have entered
into the first few refueling service agreements, both
commercial and with the United States government.
This company has also resupplied the International
Space Station with water.
