NASA is issuing a request for a proposal for a $200 to $300 million mission to demonstrate the deployment, storage, and eventual transfer of fuel in outer space to space craft headed to destinations such as the Moon or Mars. The technology demonstration mission should prove the following, according to an article in Network World:
"demonstrate long duration, in-space storage of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen cryogenic propellants.
"demonstrate in-space transfer of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen cryogenic propellants.
"demonstrate approach for zero boil-off storage of liquid oxygen in microgravity.
"demonstrate approach for acquisition and bubble-free flow of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen in microgravity.
"demonstrate approach for leak detection of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen in microgravity.
"demonstrate approach for flow measurement of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen in microgravity."
The idea behind this mission is an approach to deep space travel that does not involve a space craft carrying the fuel it needs for a voyage all the way from Earth. Instead the space craft would dock with a fuel depot, either in low Earth orbit or at one of the Lagrange points between the Earth and the Moon, top off, and proceed on its way. Funding for the technology demonstrator, considering the budget deficit crisis and congressional desire for a heavy lift launch vehicle, is currently uncertain at best.
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