The Utility Base
 |
The Utility Agent separated from the Tanker after refuelling, supervised by the Escort Agent
|
The characteristics of the Utility Base (UB)) are as follows:
The UB has a large size, as large as a high capacity satellite. Its function is to provide resource & spares and also provide a resting place to the fleet units (UAs, EMs, EAs). It can provide to these fleet units fuel, pressurant gas, high bandwidth link for tele-operations etc). With regards to its positioning it can station anywhere at the Geostationary orbit.
An early and simple version of the Utility Base can be the tanker spacecraft. However the tanker spacecraft might not be required if market conditions necessitate fast deployment of the fully functional Utility Base.
|