Date of Publication :27th November 2023

Abstract: The space industry has become more prominent than in earlier times and far more advanced. Currently, two-thirds of the weight of rockets is taken up by propellants. Storing such quantities of propellant in the rocket can ultimately lead to fire hazards, destruction of the rocket, and henceforth the loss of life, capital, and effort. After a certain point in the mission, different stages of the rocket would be rendered useless. This is where Orbital Propellant Depots come into the picture. An Orbital Propellant Depot is a supply of propellant that is placed in orbit around the Earth. In simple words, it will ensure that spacecraft travel into space with less weight, make rockets reusable, enable easy refueling, and perform maintenance on the rocket if required. Propellant Depots can be used as Multi Utility Devices. If the stages of a rocket can be refueled in space, it would be possible to reuse these parts instead of generating more space junk. The design of the depot would be in such a way that it is capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. Adequate insulation should be provided to prevent the melting and loss of propellant. When choosing a location for the depot, it is important to consider its accessibility to rockets, as well as the maintenance and monitoring requirements. The successful application of Propellant Depots will aid in the advancement of space exploration.

Reference :