The American company Orbit FAB is making waves in the space industry with its innovative satellite refueling service offered in orbit. Recent successful tests of their refueling system in the GRIP (Graph, Reposition, and Interface Payload) have validated the feasibility of their groundbreaking concept.
The GRIP tests have demonstrated the system’s ability to dock with satellites at various angles and speeds, paving the way for the creation of space gas stations. Orbit FAB plans to provide the GRIP system and other fuel transfer devices to interested partners looking to enhance their spacecraft with refueling capabilities.
Equipped with a fuel depot, the GRIP system utilizes the RAFTI port (Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface) for in-orbit refueling. The RAFTI port features an octagonal mechanism that allows spacecraft to dock with it, facilitating autonomous docking without the need for robotic manipulators.
In preparation for upcoming missions, Orbit FAB has delivered GRIP equipment and multiple RAFTI units. The US Space Force’s Tetra-5 program is poised to be one of the early adopters of this technology. Collaborations with various companies are also underway to integrate GRIP technology into fuel shuttles. RAFTI refueling ports are flight-certified and can be purchased for $30,000 to replace existing valves for refueling and fuel drain functions on spacecraft.
Aside from the benefits of in-space refueling, the space environment is being explored for semiconductor production. The growth of complex semiconductors is a precise and time-consuming process on Earth, as gravity interferes with atomic connections. In the microgravity environment of space, manufacturers can overcome this obstacle and produce high-quality semiconductors that could be used in electronic devices on Earth.