Stage 5 – Interplanetary Logistics

SLPA creates a complete, self-sustaining logistics network across the solar system. Rather than relying on chemical propellant production, nuclear reactors, or massive solar farms, SLPA forms a unified ecosystem powered by the RTC (Regenerative Thermal Core), STIP thrusters, and ATRC. This stage explains how materials, heat, and working gases move between worlds to enable continuous, scalable transportation.

1. Orbital Gas Depots

Gas depots act as the central refuelling nodes of the SLPA network. They store:

• Water (H₂O) – for steam/STIP operation and crew needs.
• CO₂ – the primary propellant for thermal and mixed-gas STIP modes.
• O₂ and H₂ – for chemical heating, STIP augmentation, and life support.
• Regolith pellets – for shielding, construction, and momentum exchange.

Each depot functions as a multi-role node: a gas station, warehouse, and thermal power hub for RTC recharging.

2. Thermal Energy Depots

Just as gas depots store propellant, thermal depots store heat. These large orbital RTC units act as slow-cooling, high-capacity energy stations.

When a ship arrives:

• Heat-exchanger lines connect the ship’s RTC to the depot’s RTC.
• Thermal energy is transferred directly and efficiently.
• No large onboard solar arrays are required for deep-space missions.

This system keeps the entire transport network operational—even far from the Sun—through continuous RTC recharging.

3. Ship–Depot Interaction

Each SLPA ship interacts with depots through three independent channels:

• Heat Exchange: RTC recharge for propulsion, thermal management, and crew survival.
• Gas Refill: Water, CO₂, O₂, and optional H₂ blends for the full STIP propulsion spectrum.
• Mass Transfer: Regolith pellets for shielding and construction.

This modular structure enables rapid turnaround and dense traffic through the SLPA corridor.

4. Resource Extraction: Closing the Loop

Depots are supplied from planetary surfaces via the ATRC (Atmospheric and Terrestrial Resource Collection) system, which handles in-situ resource extraction and surface-to-orbit transfer. ATRC is treated as a complementary but independent architecture and will be disclosed in detail in a future patent, allowing SLPA to remain propulsion- and resource-agnostic while fully supporting ISRU-based logistics.

Read the Resource Extraction System →

5. Dropships and Surface Interaction

While not part of the SLPA architecture itself, dropships—any lander or surface vehicle using conventional rocketry—benefit directly from SLPA depots. A dropship can remain parked in orbit, fully fuelled and thermally charged, confident that:

• it can refuel from gas depots after ascent,
• its RTC can be recharged at orbital thermal stations,

This makes dropship operations safer, cheaper, and fully compatible with existing aerospace technology.

6. Global Coverage Across the Solar System

SLPA’s logistic network functions effectively from Earth’s orbit out to Jupiter. Even though sunlight falls to ~4% intensity at Jupiter, RTC units require only trickle charging to maintain operational capability. Combined with orbital thermal depots, this enables:

• Near-continuous operation across the inner and mid–solar system.
• High-efficiency STIP “cruise mode” between planets.
• Greatly reduced dependence on solar farms and nuclear reactors.