The United States Space Force (USSF) is taking significant strides towards revolutionizing satellite maintenance and longevity with the development of cutting-edge refueling and servicing technologies. To further bolster these efforts, the USSF is actively engaging in public-private partnerships, enabling the service to influence commercial technology development and enhance its own capabilities.
Orbit Fab has successfully flight-qualified its RAFTI (Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface) refueling port, priced at $30,000 per unit, allowing satellites to receive propellant from external sources while on the ground or in orbit. With this achievement, Orbit Fab is poised to deliver the first 100 RAFTI units to U.S. government and commercial customers within the next year.
According to recent reports, the USSF has requested $20 million in its 2025 budget to initiate the development of tools and resources necessary for this innovative mission set, focusing on mobility and logistics. Companies like Orbit Fab have made remarkable progress in creating refueling interfaces and depots for both commercial and military applications. Their Tetra-5 experiment, co-sponsored by the Defense Innovation Unit, is projected to launch in 2025 and will significantly contribute to building confidence in the technology.