Propellant Dispensers bring propellant tank sets to LEO on ELVs. Once in Earth orbit, Propellant Dispensers rendezvous and dock with either Lunar Landers or Propellant Transporters and transfer cryogenic propellant tank sets to their receiving spacecraft. Propellant Dispensers are simple, relatively inexpensive spacecraft that are discarded after a single use.
Propellant Dispensers do not have a rocket engine nor are they able to tap into the propellant tanks they carry. Propellant Dispensers contain an autonomous rendezvous and docking system, an Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) to reach their proper designated locations in LEO for rendezvous and docking with a receiving spacecraft, and an Attitude Control System (ACS) to achieve proper attitude for docking and separation. Propellant Dispensers have the capacity to carry up to six propellant tank sets. |
A Propellant Dispenser with a full set of cryogenic propellant tank sets.
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