Domain

In-Space Logistics

Moving cargo and spacecraft around in space — orbital tugs, in-space refuelling, and reusable transfer vehicles — the transport layer of an in-space economy.

In brief

Transporting cargo and spacecraft within space.

In this domain

Orbital RefuellingInfrastructure
In development
Transferring propellant between spacecraft in orbit, so a vehicle can be refuelled rather than replaced. Refuelling a large in-space stage is central to plans for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.
Reusable Logistics VehicleInfrastructure
Operational
Cargo spacecraft that resupply stations and return payloads, increasingly designed to be reused. Commercial cargo vehicles routinely deliver supplies to the ISS, and reusable capsules now return and fly again.
Space TugInfrastructure
In development
A reusable vehicle that moves other spacecraft between orbits — delivering satellites to their final orbit, boosting or de-orbiting them, and ferrying cargo — a workhorse of an in-space transport network.

Knowledge connections

Group includesSpace Tug
Group includesOrbital Refuelling
Group includesReusable Logistics Vehicle

Sources

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.

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