Storage-ring experiments with exotic nuclei: from mass measurements to the future

Projectile fragmentation and fission of relativistic heavy ions has developed in recent years as a successful tool for nuclear structure research. High sensitivity and fast in-flight separation allowed access to the limits of nuclear stability. Cocktail beams allow systematic studies of a large number neighboring nuclides.This contribution will concentrate on direct mass measurements in a heavy-ion storage ring. Large areas of the nuclear chart have been mapped to check theoretical predictions and to investigate structure changes far off stability. The storage of atomic nuclei fully stripped or as few-electron systems allows one to study them under interstellar conditions; specific decay modes can be switched off.The new GSI project of a new synchrotron facility with new instrumentation will help to extend our knowledge far into uncharted regions. The unique characteristics are high energies up to 1 A GeV for all ions up to uranium, increased beam intensity, and a storage-ring system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]