“The Furphy mission has allowed us to test the viability of refueling satellites in orbit,” Jeremy Schiel, cofounder and chief marketing officer of Orbit Fab, said in a statement. The tests, he said, were intended to measure the effectiveness of the company’s propellant transfer technology in microgravity and its ability to handle issues like sloshing.
“With their recent successful completion of in-orbit water transfer operations aboard the space station, Orbit Fab became the first private company to supply the ISS with water using its own proprietary refueling equipment and processes,” Ken Shields, chief operating officer of the ISS National Laboratory, said in a statement. He said that aspect of the test demonstrated “NASA’s flexibility and desire to accommodate private sector clients who are utilizing the ISS U.S. National Laboratory as a steppingstone to an industrialized low Earth orbit.”
Orbit Fab argues it is demonstrating that technology to assure the industry that the infrastructure needed for satellite refueling will be ready. “We need to start now to be building confidence that we will be there and ready when those businesses are able to take advantage of it,” Daniel Faber, chief executive or Orbit Fab, said in an interview last year. “That’s why we’re starting now.”
They're not doing a space tug; they're aiming to be the gas station for all the servicing operators.See e.g. the text at https://www.orbitfab.space/.
Water may well be first fuel for their fuel depot.There are few water propulsion systems in development or actually ready to fly. They range from Bradford (ex DSI) Comet of 175ISP to Momentus 900ISP. Momentus are more into selling complete space tugs which use their water propulsion system.Water is becoming popular with smallsat operators as it make rideshare easier. Plus refuelling is simple, no need for He for tank pressurisation.
Well the new startup, than want to create her own space tug gas station, with refuelling of gas for the satellites in orbits, start to do progress on the ISS...Quote“The Furphy mission has allowed us to test the viability of refueling satellites in orbit,” Jeremy Schiel, cofounder and chief marketing officer of Orbit Fab, said in a statement. The tests, he said, were intended to measure the effectiveness of the company’s propellant transfer technology in microgravity and its ability to handle issues like sloshing.Quote“With their recent successful completion of in-orbit water transfer operations aboard the space station, Orbit Fab became the first private company to supply the ISS with water using its own proprietary refueling equipment and processes,” Ken Shields, chief operating officer of the ISS National Laboratory, said in a statement. He said that aspect of the test demonstrated “NASA’s flexibility and desire to accommodate private sector clients who are utilizing the ISS U.S. National Laboratory as a steppingstone to an industrialized low Earth orbit.”QuoteOrbit Fab argues it is demonstrating that technology to assure the industry that the infrastructure needed for satellite refueling will be ready. “We need to start now to be building confidence that we will be there and ready when those businesses are able to take advantage of it,” Daniel Faber, chief executive or Orbit Fab, said in an interview last year. “That’s why we’re starting now.”https://spacenews.com/orbit-fab-demonstrates-satellite-refueling-technology-on-iss/https://www.orbitfab.space/Will see...
Northrop Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. have invested in a spacecraft refueling startup, deepening the aerospace industry’s investment in space-based services.The military and aerospace contractors joined a more than $10 million financing round for San Francisco-based Orbit Fab Inc., which plans to launch two refueling shuttles as early as next year, said Orbit co-founder Jeremy Schiel. The companies declined to disclose the amounts. Orbit Fab said it has now raised $17 million in funding.
Big Aerospace Contractors Bet On Space Refueling StartupQuote from: WSJNorthrop Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. have invested in a spacecraft refueling startup, deepening the aerospace industry’s investment in space-based services.The military and aerospace contractors joined a more than $10 million financing round for San Francisco-based Orbit Fab Inc., which plans to launch two refueling shuttles as early as next year, said Orbit co-founder Jeremy Schiel. The companies declined to disclose the amounts. Orbit Fab said it has now raised $17 million in funding.
Gas Stations in Space™ satellite refueling is now in service! We’ve signed the first on-orbit satellite fuel sale with @Astroscale_US Read how we opened new mission possibilities by breaking the single-use satellite paradigm ⛽http://orbitfab.com/fuelsale #space #sustainability
Orbit Fab, a venture-funded startup offering a refueling service in space, announced it has won a $12 million deal to ensure its fueling interface works with U.S. military satellites. The funding includes $6 million from the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, and $6 million from Orbit Fab’s private investors. The contract is for the integration of Orbit Fab’s fueling port, called RAFTI — short for rapidly attachable fluid transfer interface — with military satellites. The port allows satellites to receive propellant from Orbit Fab’s tankers in space.This is the largest government contract won by the company to date, Jeremy Schiel, founder and chief development officer, told SpaceNews March 17.
Orbit Fab announces in-space hydrazine refueling serviceby Jeff Foust — August 30, 2022TITUSVILLE, Fla. — Orbit Fab, a startup developing infrastructure for in-space refueling of spacecraft, will start offering hydrazine for satellites in geostationary orbit as soon as 2025 at a price of $20 million.
Orbit Fab is working on depots and shuttles that can be used to refuel satellites in GEO with up to 100 kilograms of hydrazine for $20 million, starting as soon as 2025. Credit: Orbit Fab
🛰️ Orbit Fab has won a $13.3 million government contract to provide fuel for United States Space Force satellites in GEO in 2025. This is another major step toward building the bustling in-space economy!https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-11/colorado-startup-building-gas-stations-in-space-gets-13-3-million-us-contract via @business #GasStationsInSpace #space
Orbit Fab has secured 8090 Industries as a “new major investor” that is providing an undisclosed round of funding for the in-space refueling company.
Orbit Fab secures new investor to support satellite refueling effortsby Jeff Foust — October 25, 2022LAS VEGAS — Orbit Fab, a startup developing infrastructure for in-space refueling of satellites, announced Oct. 25 it lined up a new investor to support those plans.
Orbit Fab is developing tankers and other infrastructure needed for in-space refueling of satellites, starting with hydrazine. Credit: Orbit Fab
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1584893498007773184QuoteOrbit Fab has secured 8090 Industries as a “new major investor” that is providing an undisclosed round of funding for the in-space refueling company.https://spacenews.com/orbit-fab-secures-new-investor-to-support-satellite-refueling-efforts/QuoteOrbit Fab secures new investor to support satellite refueling effortsby Jeff Foust — October 25, 2022LAS VEGAS — Orbit Fab, a startup developing infrastructure for in-space refueling of satellites, announced Oct. 25 it lined up a new investor to support those plans.Image caption:QuoteOrbit Fab is developing tankers and other infrastructure needed for in-space refueling of satellites, starting with hydrazine. Credit: Orbit Fab
Layoffs hit at a pair of Colorado space companies this week – rocket engine maker Ursa Major and spacecraft refueling startup Orbit Fab – as the funding environment remains tight:
Orbit Fab Chief Commercial Officer Adam Harris to CNBC, confirming the company let get of 10 employees: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/09/layoffs-hit-colorado-space-companies-ursa-major-orbit-fab.html
Orbit Fab's strategic realignment will enable the company to focus on its core business and mission around the development and delivery of in-space refueling systems.Orbit Fab will leverage its current engineering team and is currently looking to add new high-level technical talent, including a Chief Engineer and additional Systems, Fluids, and Mechanical Engineers, over the coming months. The company just recently hired its new Chief Operating Officer, soon to be announced.The company's primary focus will be the refueling systems, including upcoming flights of multiple fuel depots and acquisition of fuel shuttles.Orbit Fab will leverage its highly successful Series A funding round to drive this laser-focused strategy, while the company moves other key developmental efforts, such as ROD, to highly capable and collaborative partnerships outside the company. The shift away from internal RPOD development has required the release of staff specialized in these areas that will now be supported through partner companies.Prior to the realignment earlier this week, Orbit Fab had 52 employees. At the completion of the realignment, Orbit Fab expects to have approximately 49 employees as well as 11 internships focused on business development and research. Ten employees were released earlier this week. About half of them are RPOD specialists, who we are actively introducing to new opportunities and helping to place with other companies in the industry.Our refined strategy will enable Orbit Fab to better meet critical and growing demand for in-space refueling infrastructure for commercial and government markets and missions.
Orbit Fab today announced its latest milestone toward refuelling satellites in orbit. The company will deliver the Advancing Satcom Technology with Refuelling and Logistics (ASTRAL) project with a total UK funding of up to $3.8m (€3.3m). The contract for the first stage of the mission, worth £1.3m (€1.1m), has now been awarded to Orbit Fab by ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Core Competitiveness programmeASTRAL will perform an in-orbit experiment by 2028 to de-risk and validate Orbit Fab’s RAFTI™ and GRASP refuelling interfaces in a realistic docking and propellant-transfer scenario. The mission will establish the performance of these systems in its operational environment– a crucial step in proving the viability of sustainable satellite servicing and refuelling.[...]Over the course of the mission, ASTRAL will demonstrate a complete series of in-orbit servicing operations, beginning with a mechanical docking and leak-free connection between a servicing and target spacecraft using Orbit Fab’s GRASP and RAFTI™ interfaces. The mission will then transfer multiple propellants – Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Ethane, and Xenon – through RAFTI™ , proving the system’s versatility and robust capacity. The mission will then attempt to safely validate docking, refuelling, rendezvous and proximity operations and safe release procedures to confirm reliable performance in a true orbital environment.
Orbit Fab Ltd with partner TAS UK receives £340,000 to create a refuellable electric propulsion system for satellites by developing a fluidic flatsat.
