Speaker
Description
Refuelling is a crucial enabler for mitigating the space debris problem and promoting a more sustainable use of space. Orbit Fab is developing an orbital infrastructure designed to provide a ubiquitous supply of propellant for all in-orbit assets, both governmental and commercial, extending their lifespan and reducing the need for deorbit and replacement. This vision will end the single use paradigm for spacecraft and enable the next generation of missions based on extended lifetimes and unlimited flexibility for maneuvering and retasking of assets. The Orbit Fab shuttle and depot space architecture is designed to ensure the most economical and robust propellant logistics to all customers in orbit. Orbit Fab Limited (OFL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Orbit Fab Inc with the vision to independently leverage the UK and European space ecosystem to contribute to the global effort to make in space refuelling and the subsequent bustling space economy a reality. OFL is taking ownership of key service offerings to global refuelling customers, and is building refuelling mission concepts to support near-term ADR missions in LEO and beyond, with a focus on supporting space sustainability and developing technologies for refuelling electric and green propulsion systems. The OFL technological and service capability roadmap is presented as well as the current activities and recent milestones in the development of RAFTI and GRASP next generation refuelling interfaces, with key results and design concepts presented. The refuelling mission concepts in development in the UK are also presented.
