Since the launch of Sputnik I in 1957, over 15,000 satellites have been sent into orbit, with more than half still operational. The increasing space debris poses risks, and efforts to clean it up have proven challenging. Orbit Fab, a Colorado-based company, aims to address this by refueling satellites in orbit to prevent them from becoming hazardous debris. Their system includes a standardized port, RAFTI, for easy refueling. Orbit Fab plans to equip new satellites with this port, offering a cost-effective solution. NASA’s OSAM-1 mission, set to launch in 2026, aims to refuel an Earth-observation satellite, showcasing the potential for satellite servicing.
Orbit Fab’s “gas stations in space” concept involves fuel ports, refueling shuttles, and orbital gas stations, with a $20 million price tag for on-orbit hydrazine delivery. The company’s first customer, Astroscale, plans to launch LEXI, the first satellite designed for refueling, in 2026. Simone D’Amico, an astronautics professor at Stanford University, sees on-orbit servicing as crucial for sustainable space development.
While Orbit Fab’s approach is visionary, it involves short-term risks but could reshape the industry in the mid to long term. The company aims to supply fuel initially and eventually manufacture fuel in orbit, envisioning building refineries for various chemicals in the next 10-15 years.