Strategic Reserves in Space

A long explored concept for expansion into space is becoming relevant once more.

During the race to put a man on the Moon in the 1960s, there was a separate race between the US and USSR to flyby or orbit the Moon. This goal was ultimately accomplished by Apollo 8 in December 1968, narrowly beating out a largely forgotten Soviet attempt (Zond) which had successfully flown live animals around the Moon in a cut-down Soyuz capsule in September 1968 and would likely have been able to do the same with humans within a few months.

But on the US side, there was a suggestion that the Gemini capsule could be used for circumlunar flights, by replacing the Agena target vehicle with a more powerful one derived from a Transtage or Centaur upper stage. This would likely have enabled a lunar flyby in 1967, but was not pursued as all resources at the time were directed towards Apollo.

Gemini 8 approaching its Agena Target Vehicle

This kind of mission profile, known as Earth Orbit Rendezvous, is not as widely known about as the standard Saturn V/SLS approach of sending everything that …