First Orbital Fuel Station Deployed

Construction beginning/end

The establishment of an unmanned refueling station in orbit marked a major milestone in the era of chemical rocket-powered spaceflight, dramatically reducing take-off weight.

The establishment of an unmanned refueling station in orbit marked a major milestone in the era of chemical rocket-powered spaceflight. Rockets would only have to carry enough fuel to break Earth orbit and reach the fueling stations, significantly reducing the weight at takeoff. This allowed for larger payloads to be transported further and more efficiently.