THE GENERAL BENEFITS OF SPACE RESOURCES IN FURTHERING NASA S SPACE EXPLORATION OBJECTIVES AND IN CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPACE COMMERCE ARE UNDENIABLE. THE COST TO OF RESOURCES DELIVERED FROM EARTH INCREASE DRAMATICALLY AS WE MOVE AWAY FROM EARTH TO OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM. FOR EXAMPLE WITHOUT REFUELING FROM SPACE RESOURCES ANY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS SUBJECT TO THE TYRANNY OF THE ROCKET EQUATION: REQUIRED PROPELLANT INCREASES EXPONENTIALLY WITH INCREASING DELTA VELOCITY. BUT AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 7 REFUELING IN SPACE BREAKS THAT RELATIONSHIP AND DRAMATICALLY REDUCES THE PROPELLANT NEEDED TO ACHIEVE LARGE DELTA V MISSIONS.