Orbit Fab, a company based in Colorado, completed flight qualification of its Rapidly Attachable Fuel Transfer Interface (RAFTI) and is preparing to ship to customers, including the Space Force. The RAFTI is designed to allow satellites to receive propellant in space or on the ground before launch.
The company has conducted ground and in-orbit tests to validate the port for the harsh space environment, with 12 RAFTI ports already shipped to customers. Plans are in place to produce more units, potentially reaching 100 this year with licensing agreements with other firms for increased availability in the marketplace.
The Space Force is planning satellite refueling demonstrations to assess military benefits and has called for all DOD spacecraft to be equipped with refueling ports by the end of the decade. Orbit Fab is committed to providing RAFTI whenever possible, including supporting upcoming refueling demonstrations and technology development efforts with military partners.
Orbit Fab’s fuel depot and RAFTI port will play roles in a 2026 demonstration involving Impulse Space, Astroscale, and AFRL’s Tetra-5 mission. The company aims to have its depot ready for launch in 2025 and is collaborating with the Space Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office on a separate effort to advance refueling technology through 2025.
