It's hard to picture just how much payload will be needed to fill all the rockets going to space soon.
We have been brought up with a space view that sees a rocket heading up every once in a while.
Even with more frequent launches, these rockets have carried small payloads. In the near future, there is going to be a lot of rockets going to space.
Not only that, they are getting bigger, are able to carry more payload, and will launch multiple times per week.
This means there is a lot of mass to orbit required to fill them up.
Where will this come from?
This has serious implications for space logistics.
Even NASA is anticipating this problem. They have "issued study contracts to examine logistical issues for a long-term human presence on the moon".
And this doesn't even take into account what will be needed for Mars and an increase in space stations around Earth.
As the number of rockets increases, particularly reusable ones, then having enough payload for them all will certainly become a logistical challenge.
Not Enough Space Payload Part 2 will look at the impact Starship will have on payload mass needed for space.
