A transportation node system orbits a celestial body. The node system
includes a truss having two ends, the truss rotating around its center of
mass while orbiting the celestial body. The truss stores payloads. The
node system also includes tether tips, each attached to one end of the
truss via a tether so that each tether tip can extend from the truss and
retract to the truss for transfer of payloads. The tether runs through
the length of the truss and connects to each tether tip, each tether tip
being capable of engaging payloads. The node further includes at least
one tether cable reel that reels in and reels out the tether so the
tether tips can extend from and retract to the truss.