IRIA News

A Colorado-based American space company, Orbit Fab, announced that it is ready to ship its in-space refueling port for satellites. The company plans to develop a network of in-space refueling depots and provide refueling services for military and commercial satellites.

Over the past two years, Orbit Fab has been working to develop a port that can withstand a challenging space environment. The company had been carrying out tests for the device including rigorous ground and in-orbit tests demonstrating its resilience against extreme conditions.

The Rapidly Attachable Fuel Transfer Interface (RAFTI) is intended for satellite installation, enabling them to receive propellant either in orbit or on the ground before launch.

The company is expected to start manufacturing for approximately a dozen RAFTIs within the next month, with Orbit Fab CEO Adam Harris stating that production is projected to reach around 100 units by the end of this year. Additionally, the company is in the process of establishing licensing agreements with other firms to facilitate wider availability of the ports in the marketplace.

Orbit Fab revealed the pricing for the RAFTI refueling ports at $30,000 per unit. According to executives, this pricing decision was informed by market research into the pricing of fill and drain valves commonly utilized in the satellite industry. “Having a certified port design means that satellite manufacturers can now integrate RAFTI with greater assurance, having undergone thorough testing,” stated Adam Harris.

Gas station in space

For decades, military and commercial satellites have predominantly relied on solar power for in-space operations. This reliance has considerably constrained their capabilities, requiring additional weight and components to accommodate solar panels and batteries. The U.S. Space Force, as well as other space agencies and commercial space companies, had been looking for a viable option that allows space refueling for the satellites.

Humans have sent over 15,000 satellites into space and only half of them are still functional.  After running out of fuel and ending their serviceable life, these satellites either end up burning themselves in the atmosphere or continue orbiting the planet as a useless pile of metal. By enabling the satellites to be refueled, the space industry can save a lot of money while reducing the amount of space trash.

The concept of refueling satellites in orbit was first introduced by NASA in 2007 through the Orbital Express mission. The project was a collaboration between DARPA (the research arm of the U.S. Department of Defense) and Boeing. NASA launched two purpose-built satellites as part of this mission, successfully achieving docking and fuel exchange.

The U.S. Space Force intends to conduct satellite refueling demonstrations in the forthcoming years to assess the military advantages offered by this capability. Officials from the U.S. Space Command have urged for all Department of Defense spacecraft to be outfitted with refueling ports by the end of the decade.

It is expected that three U.S. Space Force Tetra-5 satellites will be equipped with the RAFTI ports by 2025. These satellites would be placed into the geostationary orbit to undergo a refueling test with Orbit Fab fuel depot.

Billion-dollar market

The increasing need for satellite services in communication, Earth observation, and space exploration has prompted industry analysts to forecast a significant expansion in both the scale and economic influence of the in-space refueling market.

Market forecasts indicate a multi-billion-dollar industry in the foreseeable future, propelled by advancements in on-orbit servicing and the growing presence of governmental and commercial spacecraft.

Several companies are in the process of developing refueling ports to offer various options to the government. Among these, Northrop Grumman’s Passive Refueling Module has received recent approval from the U.S. Space Force for integration onto Department of Defense satellites.