/sci/ - Science & Math

How orbital refueling will unlock humanity’s potential in space, Secrets of ExoMars,
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https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4660/1
> Why in-space refueling is a gamechanger
> 1. Enable new missions:
> 2. Extended mission lifespan
> 3. Increased payload capabilities
> 4. Enhanced exploration opportunities
> 5. Ensuring space sustainability and debris mitigation
> 6. Maximizing economic viability
> In-space refueling is not just a novel concept; it’s a pivotal component of our future in space. It represents a shift from short-lived, one-off missions to a sustainable, enduring presence in space.
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https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4662/1
> When we think of the secrets of Mars, we think of life there, possibly hidden below its surface. A European-Russian rover, ExoMars, was built to go there. It was due to land on June 10, 2023, and might even have found signs of life there by now. Instead, its secrets remain locked up—but on Earth.
> The ExoMars rover, called Rosalind Franklin after the famous British scientist, never got to its launch pad, because it was cancelled as a Russian-European mission within 96 hours of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At that time, it was within weeks of being shipped to Moscow on its Russian lander, Kazachok, for transport to Baikonur for Proton launch on September 20, 2022.
> Why the hurry? It was not as if Rosalind Franklin was already in its cargo plane and on the runway. By contrast, in the United States, discussions between NASA and the Congress over many weeks led to a consensus that cooperation with Russia on the International Space Station should continue unaffected, a vastly different decision. The issue here, again, is not the merit of the decision, but the process.
> Younger readers should stick around to see if the ESA or Irish documents are, as the decades pass, ever released in archives. But until then, we will not know what happened over February 24–28, 2022.