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A refueling station is a space station capable of refueling rockets. It is usually located in low orbits.

Refueling stations can be created on any object, except for the Sun, where docking spacecraft is very difficult.

Refueling stations, like normal space stations, are very challenging to new players, so use the tutorial as seen below.

Orbit[]

Their orbit is low, like most space stations, which remain in low orbit, like the International Space Station, which orbits the Earth at around 450 kilometers above the surface.

Structure[]

Their structure is not complex, such as a normal space station would have. It would have refueling modules, and satellite dishes, to communicate with Earth, if necessary.

It must have docking ports, to connect another spacecraft to refuel.

Places to put on a refueling station[]

They can be in different planets, or moons.

Mercury[]

Mercury is one of the planets that need a refueling station. Such station must be in low to medium orbit.

Those are important, since Mercury has a lot o Delta V to get into orbit, so put a refueling station in orbit around Mercury.

Mercury is small, so it is easy to dock instead of other planets.

Venus[]

Venus is another breeding ground for refueling stations to exist. Venus is big, so it is a little tricky to dock spacecraft on Venus. It is important for return missions to Venus, since it takes a lot of fuel to get to Venus and back.

Earth[]

Earth is another place for refueling stations to be suitable. It is really important especially during long trips, such as exploring different planets before ending the mission of it by reentering Earth's atmosphere and landing. Earth refuel stations are also important if you get low in fuel during a mission to something.

Moon[]

Earth's natural satellite is another place suitable for refuel stations. It is very small, so docking is easy.

Mars[]

Mars is a little less common for refueling stations to exist. Usually, the refueling stations are in high orbit or in one of its moons. Mars is small, so it is easy to dock in orbit.

Mars's Moons[]

Another suitable place for the refueling station. The moons of mars are just kilometers wide, so it's very easy to dock rockets in the moons of Mars.

Jupiter[]

Jupiter is another place suitable for refueling stations. Due to Jupiter's huge size, it is very tricky to dock on Jupiter. Most Jupiter refueling stations are in low orbit or in the Galilean moons of Jupiter.

Galilean moons[]

The Galilean moons of Jupiter (Ganymede, Callisto, Io and Europa), are suitable places for refueling stations.

Io[]

Smaller than Earth's moon. Useful when you run out of fuel to return to Earth.

Europa[]

Europa is about the size of the moon, so it's very useful when you struggle to gain to orbit of Europa, since its Delta V requirement to gain orbit is high.

Ganymede[]

Ganymede is larger than Mercury (and Mars). It is a little bit tricky to dock spacecraft in Ganymede, given its huge size.

Callisto[]

Callisto is larger than Mercury, so docking spacecraft is tricky here.

Image Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Most refueling stations are found in Earth and Jupiter.

See also[]

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