Hmm...cryo propulsion for the lander? I guess they won't be staying long.

Left over propellants could be useful for life support and other chemical functions.

I wonder if the lander-base will be transformed [re-purposed] for long-term use as a stationary habitation [routine or emergency use), or as an un-inhabited facility/lab?.. or is it ultimately considered 'junk' after landing and deployment of it's payload??

Regards, Wil Taylor

o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]

"...and returning him safely to the Earth."

The entire Apollo LM [descent and assent stages] were 100% disposable/junk after serving their purpose.

I think we need to do 'better' with follow-on landers... since 'one-way lander-bases', without any secondary 're-purpose' [or any way/place to dispose of them], would tend to 'litter-the-landscape' around a permanent lunar base 'fairly quickly'.

Regards, Wil Taylor

o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]

agreed. The issue will be to refuel in space … not impossible just something "new" … or do we do it already (on ISS) ?

The next new issue will be to use RISU to make the fuel (initially the arriving capsule could bring the lander fuel with it).
but that feels like a long way off.

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

ISS has been refueled by the Russian transport.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
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that's what I meant … we have already done on-orbit refueling, so doing it at the Gateway isn't That big of a stretch. but there'll still be new things to learn.

another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?

"most of it is printed"

I'm seeing more and more rocket engines that are 3D printed. It's cool to see what the capabilities of 3D printing can provide for aspects like weight, cooling, etc. I wonder if Blue Origin has their own machines or if they are using existing 3D printers. Are most of these engines done with selective laser sintering/melting?

I just went down the youtube rabbit hole on 3D printed engines. I'm still amazed that structural weaknesses which I always assumed were intrinsic to 3D printing are being overcome by temperature treatments and I suppose other types of workarounds.