The Saturnian planetary system contains an abundance of fuel and water resources as well as one of the largest military facilities other than those on and near Earth and Pluto.
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Saturn, as imaged by the Cassini spacecraft
Credit: NASA/ESA
Titan is home to the largest array of petrochemical processing and refining plants in the Solar System. British Petroleum operates facilities on Saturn's largest moon that collect hydrocarbons from the moon's surface. Most of the collected hydrocarbons are converted into gasoline, natural gas and other fuel products at those facilities, but some are transferred to orbital refineries to be manufactured into polymers. Cargo ships move the finished products through the Interplanetary Transport Network to Mars, which uses conventional fuel for many of its industrial operations, converting the fuel to carbon dioxide in the process.
More than 10,000 Terran Defense Force servicemembers are stationed at Mimas Defense Station, located near the "Death Star" crater of Saturn's closest moon. The base conducts annual "Red Flag" exercises, wherein Terran Air Force pilots test their mettle in simulated combat against aggressors who are specially trained in Ceti tactics and strategy. Dogfights occasionally stray into Saturn's rings, exposing pilots to the very real danger of being crushed by pieces of ice or rock. The station also trains Terran Navy crews how to defend their ships against enemy starfighter attack and how to conduct successful combat operations against enemy capital ships.