While the majority of competitors in the competition are focusing on designing Mars cities, one team are building cargo trucks that would have the ability to transport supplies from Earth far into orbit to commercial space stations and lunar colonies. A space-based economy is already being planned by United Launch Alliance (ULA) which also includes building reusable rockets and using the moon and nearby asteroids to mine natural resources. But, unlike SpaceX’s spacecraft, the ULA rocket (space truck) is not intended to return to Earth.
The ULA’s reusable rocket will focus on the second stage of the rocket staying in orbit permanently so that it can constantly ferry cargo to spacecraft that need supplies. The first stage of the space launch system, Vulcan, has four rockets attached at the end. This is called the Advanced Cryogenic Evolved Stage (ACES) and is used to store fuel in the cold environments of space and can be restarted when needed.
Ultimately, the ULA would like to see a fleet of these space trucks in operation ferrying cargo from Earth to space stations and spacecraft. Tony Bruno, CEO of ULA says, “It starts becoming practical to construct large-scale infrastructure and support economic activities in space, a transportation system between here and the moon, practical microgravity manufacturing, commercial habitats, prospecting in the asteroids.”
The space trucks are one more step forward to seeing a space economy develop in front of us. The International Space Station may also become a part of ULA’s plan as NASA have recently announced they will be selling the space station in 2020 to redirect funds towards the Mars missions instead.
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