The race to build a gas station in space has begun! How will the competition between Musk and Bezos shape the future of space travel?

The concept of refueling in orbit was first proposed in the 1960s before NASA sent astronauts to the Moon. Today, this idea is back in the spotlight thanks to Musk and Bezos's companies. Fuel plays a crucial role in space research, especially the high amounts consumed when launching rockets from Earth's atmosphere.

SpaceX conducted liquid transfer tests within Starship in 2024. These tests are seen as a significant step for NASA's Artemis Moon program. Meanwhile, Blue Origin is set to transport fuel to lunar orbit with its new giant rocket, New Glenn.

Refueling in space offers the potential to carry larger payloads and reduce costs. However, technical challenges such as the storage and cooling of cryogenic fuels remain.

Musk stated in 2017 that reaching Mars would only be possible through this method. Today, he expresses that sending a Starship to Mars in 2026 is a 'small possibility.'