04 // Operational Modes
These modes are not mutually exclusive. They interleave. A single operational day can contain parallel transfers, rotation movements, and quick top-offs.
01
MODE-1 // Active
A mission Starship docks. Up to three tanker Starships dock at the same time. Propellant flows simultaneously from the tankers through the Oakheart manifold into the mission vehicle. The fifth port holds the reserve ship, available for immediate top-off or contingency.
Transfer time is compressed. Waiting is reduced.
02
MODE-2 // Active
The reserve Starship remains full. Empty or near-empty tankers arrive, dock, receive propellant from the reserve or from a newly arrived full tanker, then undock and return to Earth. After ground refueling they launch again and rejoin the cycle.
The pipeline never empties. Propellant is always staged and ready.
03
MODE-3 // Active
When only a partial load is required, the mission vehicle docks and draws from the reserve Starship or the hub’s modest buffer tanks. A quick draw, a quick departure, and the rotation continues around it.
No full tanker campaign is needed. Flexibility is preserved.
Fault Tolerance
The loss or delay of any single vehicle does not stop the flow.
Redundancy lives in the rotation itself.
The five-port geometry makes the interleaving natural rather than forced.
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