According to the Union of Concerned Scientists ( UCS), over 4,000 functional satellites are presently in orbit around Earth. As part of the “commercialization” of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) prepared for in this century, the presence of so many satellites will create new opportunities (as well as risks).
We look forward to working with Orbit Fab and getting access to their in-orbit refueling innovation, an important component of space flight logistics that might assist our clients address brand-new and developing threats.”
ASPIN is a docking adapter that the company will include in its LM 2100 combat satellite bus, which will enable for hardware and instrument upgrades in orbit. The adapter was developed to have plenty of open space to support refueling user interfaces, such as Orbit Fabs RAFTI port.
Further Reading: Orbit Fab, Lockheed Martin.
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According to the Union of Concerned Scientists ( UCS), over 4,000 functional satellites are presently in orbit around Earth. According to some price quotes, this number is expected to reach as high as 100,000 by the end of this decade, consisting of telecommunication, internet, research, navigation, and Earth Observation satellites. As part of the “commercialization” of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) expected in this century, the existence of a lot of satellites will develop new chances (in addition to risks).
The presence of these satellites will require a lot of mitigation (to prevent accidents), servicing, and upkeep. The San Francisco-based start-up Orbit Fab is working to produce all the necessary innovation for orbital refueling services for satellites. To help recognize this goal, market huge Lockheed Martin just recently announced that they are buying Orbit Fabs “Gas Stations in Space ™” refueling technology.
The San Francisco-based startup was founded in 2018 by Daniel Faber and Jeremy Schiel, both of whom have strong backgrounds in the commercial area market. Between 2016 and 2019, Faber was the CEO of Deep Space Industries ( DSI), one of the leading companies currently developing asteroid mining capabilities. Schiel, meanwhile, was the vice-chair of the Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations ( CONFERS), a consortium committed to fostering standards and best practices for satellite maintenance.
Orbit Fabs Refueling Network Concept. Credit: Orbit Fab
As they state on their website, the company was founded to produce “a flourishing in-space market for product or services that support both existing space companies (interactions and Earth observation) and brand-new industries like area production, tourism, and mining.” Their very first product is the Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface ( RAFTI), a fueling port that will enable orbital refueling for satellites.
The RAFTI system is developed to extend the life expectancy of spacecraft by offering them the ability to conduct on-orbit refueling. The system can be found in 2 elements: the Service Valve (SV) and the Space Coupling Half (SCH). The SV works as a fill/drain system for ground fueling and in-orbit refueling, a primary docking adapter for attaching 2 spacecraft together, and a secondary maintenance connection to help with maintenance missions that use robotic arms.
The SCH is a double-action latch system that supports both primary docking or secondary accessory of 2 spacecraft. According to the RAFTI Spec Sheet, the system measures 10 x 10 x. 5 cm (3.9 x 3.9 x 0.2 inches), or 500 cm3 (30.5 cubic inches), has a peak power requirement of 10 watts (W), can accommodate a circulation rate of 1 liter (0.264 gallons) per minute (at an increase of 15 psi/m).
It can run at temperature levels of -40 to 120 ° C( -40 to 248 ° F )and pressures of 500 to 3,000 psi. It can handle lots of various types of propellant, varying from Water, lox/h2, and alcohol, to nitrogen, helium, xenon, and krypton. It can supposedly keep internal/external leaks as low as 1 x 10-6 square cubic centimeters per 2nd (scc/s)– which is so low as to be hardly quantifiable!
Astronaut Christina Koch puts Orbit Fabs equipment through its speeds on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA and the ISS U.S. National Laboratory
This summer season, the RAFTI SV was flight-qualified after being introduced to area aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (on June 30th, 2021). As part of an arrangement with the Seattle-based launch service supplier Spaceflight Inc., the SV flew aboard Orbit Fabs model Tanker-001 Tenzing spacecraft. This flight aimed to evaluate the tanks, fueling ports, thrusters, and rendezvous and docking systems.
The Tanker-001 Tenzing spacecraft is now in a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) and brings High-Test Peroxide (HTP) fuel (a “green propellant), making it the worlds very first functional fuel depot in area. Formerly, Orbit Fab carried out a four-month screening program where they launched a prototype tanker to the ISS in May of 2019. In the procedure, they confirmed their Propellant Feed system and became the very first company to refuel the ISS with water.
Most recently, Orbit Fab revealed that they had secured investments from two aerospace giants– Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman — both of which have a long history of producing satellites for industrial, navigation, and military applications. Chris Moran, the VP, executive director, and basic manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures, said in a recent press declaration:
Our charter is to tactically invest in smaller innovation companies focused on ingenious innovations within our existing companies, and Orbit Fab fits this requirements. We look forward to working with Orbit Fab and gaining access to their in-orbit refueling innovation, an essential element of area flight logistics that could help our consumers deal with brand-new and evolving hazards.”
Orbit Fabs RAFTI (Rapidly Attachable Fuel Transfer Interface) Service Valve will enable satellites to refuel in-orbit. Credit: Orbit Fab
” This investment in Orbit Fab is among numerous we have made that have produced and supported innovative technologies and capabilities for on-orbit flexibility,” added Paul Pelley. “The ability to refuel a satellite on orbit is a crucial element for our consumers missions because it enables them greater maneuverability and can extend the life of a mission with renewed fuel.”.
Pelley is the director of the Augmentation System Port INterface ( ASPIN) program at Lockheed Martin Space. ASPIN is a docking adapter that the business will consist of in its LM 2100 battle satellite bus, which will permit hardware and instrument upgrades in orbit. The adapter was designed to have lots of open area to support refueling user interfaces, such as Orbit Fabs RAFTI port.
Previously this month, the company revealed that they had actually completed environmental screening with the Lockheed Martin IN-space Upgrade Satellite System ( LINUSS), which will be releasing for orbit later on this year. Similar in concept to ASPIN, the LINUSS innovation will demonstrate how little CubeSats can upgrade satellite constellations to expand their operations and extend their life span.
This research is part of a bigger effort to develop the essential technology and tools to repair, refuel, and upgrade satellites in orbit. By extending their lives and abilities, less satellites will become defunct in time, thus mitigating the possibility of crashes and orbital debris over time. After all, commercializing LEO suggests that we need to take actions to avoid the Kessler Syndrome from messing up everything!
