What critical maneuver relies on a tanker version of Starship meeting the Mars-bound ship in Earth orbit?
Answer
In-orbit refueling to transfer propellant before departure.
In-orbit refueling is identified as a critical prerequisite for successfully transporting the massive payloads required for a Martian colony. The challenge lies in the physics of launching a vehicle fully fueled for the entire journey to Mars directly from Earth, as this would necessitate an unfeasibly large first stage or an enormous vehicle overall. Therefore, a specialized tanker version of Starship launches first, rendezvous with the Mars-bound ship in Earth orbit, transfers the necessary propellant, and only then can the Mars vehicle depart on its interplanetary trajectory.
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