Orbit Fab is the first commercial spacecraft refueling company. They’re building gas stations in space to make satellite operations more flexible.
The company develops refueling tech, sends out fuel tankers, and handles orbital logistics for both commercial and government clients.
Orbit Fab jumped into the in-space refueling industry as a pioneer. Their main goal? Build infrastructure that takes away fuel limitations from satellite missions.
They base their business around selling spacecraft propellant in orbit. Orbit Fab gives customers the tech they need to refuel satellites while they’re already up there.
The company builds and launches tankers to supply propellant. They also manage logistics so satellites and client spacecraft can refuel when it’s needed.
Key Technology: RAFTI (Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface) is their signature docking system. It lets satellites take on propellant from outside sources, whether on the ground or in orbit.
Investors back Orbit Fab, and they work with both US and international government programs. Over 100 commercial spacecraft customers are part of their network.
Orbit Fab wants to create infrastructure for a sustainable, secure space economy. Their main focus is on leading the way in on-orbit satellite refueling.
They’re hoping to unlock new mission options for satellites. In-space refueling really shakes things up by removing the limits imposed by the amount of fuel a satellite can carry at launch.
Core Services Include:
Their approach encourages reusable satellites and longer missions. This supports commercial, scientific, and defense applications in a bunch of different orbits.
Orbit Fab calls itself the first commercial spacecraft refueling service. They like to describe their idea as “Gas Stations in Space”—catchy, right?
Orbit Fab has landed some significant contracts and hit a few big milestones. They secured a DIU RAPIDS contract to refuel U.S. Space Force satellites in 2025.
2025 Launch Plans: Hydrazine refueling services will be available in GEO starting in 2025. They’re offering 100kg of hydrazine for $20 million.
They completed the first commercial in-space fuel sale agreement. Orbit Fab will refuel Astroscale’s LEXI servicers with up to 1000kg of xenon in GEO.
International Partnerships: Orbit Fab supports the UK Space Agency’s Active Debris Removal Program. They’re equipping ClearSpace’s debris removal satellites with refueling capabilities.
They won an ESA contract and finished in-orbit tests of their latest tech. RAFTI and GRASP systems are on track for qualification to support most spacecraft propellant needs.
Orbit Fab set up refueling mission concepts that back space sustainability efforts. That includes active debris removal and longer satellite operational life.
Orbit Fab came up with specialized systems that let satellites receive fuel while in space. They use standardized ports and automated docking mechanisms.
This tech solves the main reason satellites fail and helps them last a lot longer.
The satellite refueling process relies on two main components from Orbit Fab. RAFTI (Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface) is the standardized refueling port installed on satellites.
GRIP (Grapple, Reposition, and Interface Payload) acts as the fueling nozzle. It approaches and connects to satellites.
RAFTI ports swap out old fill and drain valves on satellites. These ports allow for both ground fueling before launch and in-orbit refueling during missions.
The Space Force picked RAFTI as the official refueling interface for military satellites.
The GRIP system does three big things. It grabs onto target satellites with robotic arms, moves itself to line up with the RAFTI port, and creates a safe, tight connection for propellant transfer.
During refueling, the GRIP nozzle moves in and docks with the RAFTI port. Propellant flows from orbital fuel depots through the connection and into the satellite’s tanks.
The whole process runs autonomously—no humans in the loop.
Satellite refueling tech brings a bunch of operational and financial upsides. The biggest one? Satellites can keep working way past their original fuel limits.
Mission flexibility goes way up with refueling capability. Satellites can maneuver more, shift orbits, and take on extra jobs. Military satellites get a survivability boost thanks to better maneuvering options.
Cost savings start to add up when you don’t have to keep launching replacements. Operators can just refuel existing satellites, cutting manufacturing and launch costs.
The tech also helps with space sustainability by lowering orbital debris. Satellites stay active longer, which means fewer dead ones floating around. Less launching means less traffic and a lower risk of collisions.
Revenue opportunities open up for satellite operators. Comms satellites can keep making money for longer. Science missions get to keep collecting data past their original end dates.
Technical challenges still make satellite refueling tricky. Docking precision is a big one—you need extremely accurate positioning to line up nozzles and ports without causing damage or leaks.
Propellant handling in space is another hurdle. Fuel acts weird in zero gravity, so you need special pumps and containers. Temperature swings in space can mess with fuel properties and transfer rates.
Cost barriers are real. RAFTI ports run about $30,000 each. Satellite makers have to build these in from the start, which adds more cost and complexity.
Standardization issues make compatibility tough. Satellites use different refueling ports and propellants. Older satellites can’t be refueled at all—they just weren’t built for it.
Orbital logistics get complicated fast. Fuel depots have to be in the right place at the right time. If too many satellites want to refuel at once, you could get scheduling bottlenecks.
Orbit Fab created the Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface (RAFTI) as the first flight-qualified refueling port for spacecraft. This standardized system works both for ground fueling at launch and in-space refueling, replacing old fill-and-drain valves with one dual-purpose port.
RAFTI uses an octagonal grapple fixture and two valve cores to enable cooperative docking in space. The passive interface creates a secure fluid connection for propellant transfer.
They built propellant and pressurant valves right into a single unit. This design gets rid of the need for extra ground fueling gear.
During missions, Orbit Fab’s GRIP docking mechanism locks onto the satellite’s RAFTI port to set up fluid connections.
Ground teams use the RAFTI Ground Coupling (RGC) interface for fueling at launch sites. It’s the same port that works for refueling in space.
The interface passed tough testing—thermal, vibration, the works. RAFTI achieved Technology Readiness Level 8 (TRL-8), so it’s proven to work in actual space conditions.
Orbit Fab offers the standard RAFTI Service Valve (RSV) for $30,000 apiece. Both commercial and government missions can use this on pretty much any spacecraft.
The RAFTI Ground Coupling is for payload processing facilities and launch sites. It replaces regular fill-and-drain valves with something that can do both jobs.
Three Space Force Tetra-5 satellites will use RAFTI ports for the first refueling operations in geostationary orbit. Several commercial missions have also picked up the standard.
Astroscale built RAFTI into their Life Extension In-Orbit (LEXI) Servicer spacecraft launching in 2025. Their Prototype Servicer for Refueling will use RAFTI too.
ClearSpace teamed up with Orbit Fab to build refueling architectures using RAFTI. The UK Space Agency is funding an Active Debris Removal mission that includes this tech.
RAFTI is the first flight-qualified refueling interface in the satellite world. Before this, spacecraft mostly used single-use propellant systems with no way to refuel.
Old ground fueling setups needed two separate fill-and-drain valves. RAFTI does both jobs with one port, which cuts down on complexity and cost.
A group of 30 companies helped define RAFTI specs for industry standardization. That’s a big contrast to past proprietary refueling ideas that never caught on.
Space Force and NASA requirements shaped RAFTI from the start. Earlier refueling attempts usually couldn’t meet military or civil space standards.
The interface handles hundreds of ground and space fueling cycles and has built-in fail-safes. Older designs typically only allowed a few refuels before wearing out.
Orbit Fab operates on-orbit fuel depots in several orbital zones to serve spacecraft refueling needs. They place these storage systems strategically in low Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, and cis-lunar space for better coverage.
Orbit Fab sends out specialized tanker spacecraft that act as mobile fuel depots. These tankers store propellant and position themselves in key orbits where satellites operate.
The tanker design uses advanced fuel storage tech with internal baffles. These direct fuel flow and stop sloshing, which could throw off the spacecraft’s balance.
Key tanker capabilities include:
Three tanker satellites will work in geostationary orbit for the initial rollout. Impulse Space’s Mira orbital service vehicle hosts these depot operations.
The fuel depot network supplies hydrazine and other propellants on demand. Orbit Fab developed special pumps to safely transfer propellant between depots and client spacecraft.
Hydrazine storage takes precise temperature and pressure control in space. The company’s tanks have designs that keep the propellant in good shape during long stays in orbit.
Storage specs include:
The refueling process links client spacecraft directly to the fuel depot through the RAFTI interface. This replaces standard fill and drain valves for smoother fuel transfers.
Orbit Fab wants to expand fuel depot coverage to more orbital zones. They look at where satellites cluster and how traffic moves to pick the best depot spots.
Future plans include more geostationary depots and lunar orbit fuel stations. The Defense Innovation Unit contract supports the first deployment phases, with fuel delivery to Space Force missions.
Expansion priorities:
They use UMPIRE mission planning software to model demand and optimize depot placement. This way, fuel is available where and when satellites really need it.
Orbit Fab runs fuel depots in both low Earth orbit and geostationary orbit. They serve different satellite markets.
The company launched its first tanker to LEO in 2021. They deployed a second tanker to GEO, using a lunar trajectory to get there.
Orbit Fab just pulled off something new: its second tanker is now the first propellant depot in geostationary orbit. They launched this GEO tanker on a Spaceflight Inc. Sherpa-ES orbital transfer vehicle, using a wild trajectory that actually swings around the far side of the moon.
This Tanker-002 holds over 200 pounds of hydrazine fuel. It can keep propellant safe for up to 15 years—even out in the brutal environment of geostationary orbit.
The GEO tanker mainly serves big satellites, including those run by the US Department of Defense and commercial operators. When it’s not delivering fuel, the tanker parks itself a few hundred kilometers away from the geostationary belt, just to avoid adding clutter.
Orbit Fab uses its own RAFTI system (Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface) for these fuel transfers in GEO. They designed this tech specifically for hefty space assets working in that orbit.
Back in June 2021, Orbit Fab sent its first tanker to low Earth orbit. This first Gas Station in Space weighs under 100 pounds and really just proves their refueling tech works.
The LEO tanker lets Orbit Fab test out its main systems before sending bigger tankers to trickier orbits. They use it to show they can store fuel for a long time and pull off refueling ops in space.
Orbit Fab isn’t stopping there—they want to put dozens of fuel tankers and shuttles in LEO over the next decade. These depots will hang out near customer satellite constellations, offering on-demand refueling.
They’ve teamed up with Astroscale U.S. for direct fuel transfers from the tankers to working satellites in low Earth orbit.
Orbit Fab has locked in some big contracts with the U.S. military, including a $12 million deal that mixes Air Force and Space Force funding with private investment. The Defense Innovation Unit picked Orbit Fab’s tech for the first commercial fuel sale in geostationary orbit, as part of the RAPIDS initiative.
The Pentagon has put a lot behind Orbit Fab’s refueling technology through several defense agencies. The Defense Innovation Unit signed on for the first in-space fuel sale in GEO orbit, including the RAPIDS Refueling and Fuel Depot Initiative.
The Air Force kicked in $6 million, matched by the Space Force for a total of $12 million. Private investors filled in the rest to make sure military satellites can use the tech.
Orbit Fab ran thorough tests at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s facilities at Kirtland Air Force Base. Engineers from both Orbit Fab and government agencies worked together on these evaluations. They used advanced simulation equipment to check the refueling systems.
The military ordered at least three RAFTI refueling ports from Orbit Fab. Each port costs $30,000 and can swap out standard spacecraft valves, adding in-space refueling to existing satellite designs.
Space Systems Command gave Orbit Fab’s RAFTI port the green light as an approved refueling interface for military satellites. The Space Force plans to do the first refueling demo through the Tetra-5 program, aiming for a 2026 launch.
The Tetra-5 experiment brings together several organizations. The U.S. Space Force leads, with support from the Air Force Research Laboratory. Orbit Fab supplies the refueling tech, and Astroscale throws in additional spacecraft systems.
Space Force satellites with RAFTI ports will act as test subjects. An Orbit Fab fuel depot will approach using the GRIP docking mechanism, then connect and transfer propellant automatically.
Col. Joseph Roth mentioned ongoing reviews of refueling tech at recent defense conferences. The Space Force is still sizing up both Orbit Fab and its competitors. They’ll use these evaluations to decide on future military refueling contracts.
Military planners see in-space refueling as essential for keeping the upper hand in orbit. The Pentagon wants flexible space capabilities that let satellites last longer. Refueling means spacecraft can change orbits and keep going after they’d normally run out of fuel.
This tech gives the U.S. a real edge in contested space zones. Satellites can move fast if threats show up, and longer missions mean fewer expensive replacements.
Defense officials keep stressing how important it is for America to lead in space refueling. The Pentagon is up against international military space programs. Jumping on commercial refueling services early helps the U.S. stay ahead.
Northrop Grumman is Orbit Fab’s main rival for these military contracts. The big defense company offers its own refueling systems. Space Force officials are weighing both options to see which fits military needs best.
Orbit Fab’s refueling tech goes right after the biggest problem for communications satellites—fuel depletion. It’s frustrating: satellites often work fine, but run out of fuel and have to shut down. With the RAFTI interface and orbital refueling, comms providers can keep satellites going way past their original design life.
Most comms satellites don’t die because their hardware breaks—they just run out of propellant for station-keeping and orbital tweaks. That’s why Orbit Fab built solutions for the satellite communications market with their RADICAL project.
The €750,000 ESA-funded project zeroes in on geostationary communications satellites. These platforms burn through fuel just to stay in the right spot above Earth’s equator.
Orbit Fab wants to make refueling standard by building RAFTI ports right into satellite designs. Instead of the old fill and drain valves, you get a system ready for in-orbit fuel deliveries.
They’re working with major satellite operators and telecom primes to adapt current missions for refueling. This teamwork helps make sure everything fits with existing ground control systems and ops procedures.
Usually, comms satellites last 15-20 years before they’re out of fuel and must retire. Orbit Fab’s refueling lets these missions go longer, with real gains in efficiency, revenue, and reliability.
Longer satellite life means operators don’t have to shell out for new, pricey platforms. They can just top up the tanks for a lot less.
Refueling also opens up new ways to make money. With longer missions, providers can keep contracts going and avoid service gaps when switching satellites.
Operational uptime jumps when satellites get refueled instead of shut down. That’s a big deal for telecom providers—commercial or government—who can’t afford outages.
Military comms satellites get a special boost from refueling. Keeping these birds alive longer strengthens orbital defense resilience and keeps those critical links up, even when fuel’s running low.
Orbit Fab faces some serious security hurdles as a space infrastructure provider handling sensitive military contracts and running vital refueling systems. They’ve got to protect both digital assets and physical operations, all while meeting tough government compliance rules.
Orbit Fab rolls out strict data protection protocols to keep mission-critical info and customer data safe. They’re working toward CMMC compliance for Department of Defense contracts.
Key protection strategies include:
They’ve upgraded IT systems to patch cybersecurity holes, focusing on protecting their refueling tech and customer mission data from prying eyes.
Orbit Fab keeps separate secure networks for different ops levels. Military contracts get the highest security and isolated data handling.
Physical security is just as important. Orbit Fab coordinates with government agencies to lock down launch sites and mission control centers.
Critical safety protocols cover:
RAFTI docking ports come with built-in security to block unauthorized fuel transfers. Multiple authentication checks make sure only approved spacecraft can tap into refueling.
Ground control uses redundant comms pathways, so a single failure won’t take down a refueling mission or put crew at risk.
Orbit Fab is a tempting target for cyber criminals and foreign adversaries aiming to mess with national security. Their military contracts and role in critical infrastructure draw sophisticated attacks.
Main threat vectors:
Adversaries constantly watch for weaknesses in Orbit Fab’s systems. The company has to stay alert and use advanced defenses to protect both commercial and military clients.
Orbit Fab’s cybersecurity team zeroes in on threat detection and fast response. They know a breach could compromise national security and shake up the new space economy.
Orbit Fab has built a pretty wide network of strategic partnerships throughout the commercial space sector and stays active with government agencies. They work with major spacecraft makers, propulsion experts, and space agencies to develop a full refueling infrastructure.
Orbit Fab has teamed up with several commercial space companies to push orbital refueling forward. At the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, they signed with four European firms: D-Orbit, DEIMOS, Infinite Orbits, and Magdrive.
Space Servicing Partnerships:
These collaborations let Orbit Fab blend expertise in spacecraft, propulsion, and orbital management. Each partner brings something different to the table.
Lunar Infrastructure Development: Orbit Fab also joined up with Astroport Space Technologies to speed up lunar infrastructure work. They want to make long-term space exploration possible with advanced refueling.
They’ve got agreements with ispace, too, aiming for dynamic operations across GEO, LEO, and VLEO.
The UK Space Agency backs Orbit Fab’s mission to stretch satellite lifespans and keep orbits sustainable. Dr. Paul Bate from the UK Space Agency points out how important it is to protect Earth’s orbits as thousands of new satellites go up every year.
Orbit Fab’s work lines up with NASA’s Artemis mission through knowledge exchange programs. They share technical know-how and best practices to boost space exploration.
Regulatory Support: Government support helps Orbit Fab develop innovations to keep satellites running longer. This is key as commercial space activity keeps ramping up and orbital sustainability becomes a bigger challenge.
Their UK ops center in Harwell gets a boost from local space agency partnerships. This setup lets Orbit Fab stay close to European space efforts while keeping a global footprint through US operations.
Orbit Fab’s refueling tech flips the old space economy on its head—no more waste and one-and-done satellites. They’re attacking two big problems: cutting down on space debris by extending satellite life, and building the infrastructure for actual reusable space operations.
Space debris keeps piling up, and honestly, it’s becoming a real headache for satellites and future missions. The current way we do things—launching satellites that turn into junk once their fuel runs out—just isn’t sustainable.
Orbit Fab wants to flip that script. With their refueling tech, satellites can keep working way past their original fuel limits. Communication satellites in geostationary orbit, for example, can get refueled instead of drifting off as more space junk.
The company’s RAFTI refueling ports swap out the usual fill and drain valves on satellites. That simple change means satellites can get topped up multiple times during their lives.
By keeping satellites running longer, we don’t have to launch replacements as often. That helps cut down on the number of dead satellites clogging up space.
The end goal? A cleaner space environment where everyone can operate safely.
Refueling satellites is a start, but building a truly sustainable space economy takes more. Orbit Fab is working on the backbone infrastructure that makes reusability possible.
They’re putting fuel depots in orbit—think gas stations, but for satellites and spacecraft. These depots store propellants and make it possible to go farther, whether it’s to the Moon or just around Earth.
Their systems handle all sorts of propellants: chemical, electric, even the so-called green fuels. Satellites in low Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, or even very low Earth orbit can all benefit from refueling.
This flexibility opens doors for commercial space and scientific missions that need to last longer. It’s a step toward making space operations less disposable and more like a real economy.
Orbit Fab is pushing into big space infrastructure projects. They’re developing new tech that could totally change how satellite refueling works.
They’ve landed Defense Department contracts and are working on next-gen docking systems. It seems like they’re setting themselves up as a key player in sustainable space operations.
Orbit Fab has lined up several high-profile missions to show off their commercial refueling chops. The Defense Innovation Unit picked them for the first commercial fuel sale in geostationary orbit, under the RAPIDS initiative.
That mission will put Orbit Fab’s “Gas Stations in Space” idea to the test, fueling real Defense Department satellites. For the first time, a private company will sell fuel directly to government spacecraft in orbit.
They’re also teaming up with Astroport Space Technologies to reach lunar operations. Together, they’ll run tech demos on Earth and the Moon, testing out resource extraction and refueling.
These lunar demos will help NASA’s Artemis program by building sustainable fuel chains. They want to prove spacecraft can refuel using stuff mined straight from the Moon’s surface.
Orbit Fab’s RAFTI (Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface) valve system tackles tough fuel-flow problems that have held satellites back for years. Now satellites can get propellant from outside sources while in orbit.
Their GRIP docking and refueling nozzle works hand-in-hand with RAFTI, giving a full refueling solution. This combo can stretch a satellite’s life and cut down on the need for expensive replacements.
They’re partnering with the European Space Agency to qualify these systems for different spacecraft. RAFTI and GRIP should be certified for most propellants by 2026.
By teaming up with Astroport, Orbit Fab can turn lunar materials into usable spacecraft fuel. That could mean deep space missions won’t have to rely on Earth for fuel anymore.
Orbit Fab stands out as the first company offering spacecraft refueling services directly in orbit. They’ve pulled in serious funding, operate from a couple of locations, and keep growing their team while rolling out tech that changes how satellites work.
Orbit Fab sells spacecraft propellant right in orbit, helping satellites last longer. They build and launch fuel tankers that deliver propellant to client spacecraft as needed.
They also provide the tech systems customers need to refuel their satellites. Orbit Fab takes care of the tricky orbital logistics to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Their services let satellites stay flexible and extend their missions. Now, satellites don’t have to call it quits just because they’re low on fuel.
RAFTI, short for Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface, is a docking system that lets satellites refuel from external sources—either on the ground or in orbit.
This system makes cooperative docking and on-orbit refueling possible. RAFTI acts as a standardized fuel port, so different manufacturers can use it.
With RAFTI, satellites can tap into Orbit Fab’s orbital tankers for fuel whenever they need it.
Since starting up in 2018, Orbit Fab has raised $65.45 million. Their latest round was through an Incubator/Accelerator program.
That kind of backing shows investors believe in space refueling tech. The funding helps them develop more orbital tankers and build out their infrastructure.
With more capital, Orbit Fab can scale up and launch more fuel supply missions. They’re gearing up to meet a growing demand for satellite life extension.
Orbit Fab works out of two main spots in the U.S. Their headquarters are at 1460 Overlook Drive in Lafayette.
They also run major operations from 274 Shotwell Street in San Francisco, California. This setup helps them cover both business and technical development.
Being in both places lets them tap into different talent pools. Both locations play a key role in building their refueling technology.
Orbit Fab offers a range of jobs in engineering, operations, and business development. They’re looking for folks who want to help pioneer space refueling.
You’ll find open roles on job sites like Glassdoor. They post both technical and non-technical positions.
Jobs are available at both Lafayette and San Francisco offices. If you want to shape the future of space logistics and satellite servicing, they’re interested in hearing from you.
You can dig into detailed company info on sites like PitchBook and Crunchbase.
They offer up valuation numbers, funding history, and who’s leading the team.
Orbit Fab keeps pushing its space refueling business, rolling out tankers and licensing its tech.
Honestly, it’s an investment opportunity in a satellite servicing market that’s only getting bigger.
You’ll find investor info like cap tables, funding rounds, and performance stats.
If you’re thinking about investing, it’s smart to check how the company is moving forward with its orbital refueling plans.
