IN A week when Boeing launched an experimental spacecraft designed to refuel an orbiting sister ship, it also announced plans for a multipurpose 鈥渟pace garage鈥�.
The Orbital Express, launched on 8 March, is testing systems designed to refuel a partner craft autonomously. Taking the idea a step further, Boeing last week also filed a patent application for a space depot that can refuel satellites, and also provide fuel, oxygen and water to crewed spacecraft like NASA鈥檚 planned Crew Exploration Vehicle (US 2007/0051854). The depot would be big enough to provide a temporary 鈥渟afe harbour鈥� for astronauts whose craft becomes crippled, Boeing says.
Fuel, water and oxygen would be stored in easily replaceable cartridges, so avoiding the tricky task of pumping liquids between craft.
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