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The Astroscale U.S. Refueler spacecraft would also be topped off by Orbit Fab's orbiting fueling depot.
COLORADO SPRINGS—Astroscale U.S. plans to attempt two U.S. Space Force satellite refueling operations in geostationary orbit (GEO) after its scheduled launch in the summer of 2026.
The company’s Refueler also would be refueled itself after transferring propellant to a client satellite via an orbital fuel depot built by Orbit Fab. One of the satellites that would be refueled is the Space Force’s Tetra-5 spacecraft.
The Astroscale Prototype Servicer for Refueling (APS-R) demonstration mission would be the “first-ever on-orbit refueling” of a U.S. Defense Department satellite, Astroscale said here at the Space Symposium conference on April 8. It is not clear if the Refueler would transfer fuel to the Tetra-5 in two separate instances or whether another satellite would receive fuel. Astroscale declined to elaborate, but says the mission would have “two separate refueling events.”
Satellites that could be refueled could “maneuver without regret” in Space Force parlance, meaning they could move around space, for example, to investigate other spacecraft, without worrying about running out of gas.
“It’s about enabling sustained maneuverability, extending the life of critical space assets and giving our national security community the ability to adapt quickly in a dynamic space domain,” says Clare Martin, executive vice president of Astroscale.
The company plans to lean on its rendezvous and proximity operations technology, developed originally for space-junk removal by its parent company in Japan. In 2021, Astroscale demonstrated for the first time the ability to capture another client spacecraft with its End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (known as ELSA-d).
The Refueler would rendezvous with the Space Force’s Tetra-5 and dock with it.
“Once docked, APS-R conducts its first refueling operation, transferring hydrazine using a capture and refueling interface,” says Martin. “After the transfer, the spacecraft detaches and maneuvers to a safe distance, where we use a hyperspectral instrument to perform a leak check, confirming the integrity of the fuel transfer.”
The APS-R is capable of maneuvering to 400 km (250 mi.) above GEO, says Astroscale. The vehicle has a service life of 2-3 years.
The Refueler carries 30 kg (66 lb.) of hydrazine fuel. The vehicle uses the fuel for its own maneuvering as well, so would not empty its tank into a client spacecraft.
Orbit Fab is developing and manufacturing the fuel depot. Orbit Fab’s refueling interfaces also are to be used on Tetra-5 and the ASP-R. Southwest Research Institute is building the spacecraft ASP-R bus on behalf of Astroscale.
The APS-R also could be used for refueling Astroscale’s other spacecraft or commercial spacecraft, Martin says.
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