Orbit Fab, a U.S.-based space infrastructure company specializing in in-orbit refueling technologies, is advancing satellite sustainability with a full-service orbital fuel delivery architecture designed to support long-duration spacecraft operations. The company’s refueling ecosystem combines docking interfaces, fuel depots, mission planning software and orbital fuel shuttles to enable satellites to refuel directly in orbit rather than being limited by onboard propellant launched from Earth.

At the core of Orbit Fab’s architecture is the RAFTI (Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface), a cooperative docking and refueling interface designed to replace conventional spacecraft fill-and-drain valves. The interface enables both ground fueling and on-orbit refueling, allowing spacecraft to dock with Orbit Fab’s fuel delivery systems while minimizing integration complexity for satellite manufacturers. The RAFTI system is available in multiple configurations supporting different propellants and pressure requirements.

Orbit Fab’s refueling service architecture is built around a network of orbital fuel depots and reusable fuel shuttles capable of transporting propellant directly to RAFTI-equipped spacecraft operating across Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and cislunar space. Placement of these depots and shuttles is optimized using the company’s UMPIRE mission planning software, which models satellite clusters and orbital logistics to improve fuel availability and operational efficiency.

The company also integrates Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD) technologies into its service architecture through its FLATIRONs navigation system. The system utilizes long-wave infrared (LWIR) imaging and computer vision-based tracking of fiducial markers surrounding the refueling interface, enabling cooperative docking and refueling operations without relying on deep learning-based navigation approaches.

Orbit Fab is developing support for multiple propellant types, including Hydrazine, Xenon, Krypton and green propellants such as High Test Peroxide (HTP), enabling compatibility with both chemical and electric propulsion spacecraft. The company announced hydrazine fuel delivery services for GEO missions beginning in 2025, including fuel shuttle-based delivery architectures capable of servicing operational satellites without requiring them to leave their assigned orbital positions.

A major milestone in the company’s commercialization efforts includes the first commercial in-space fuel sale agreement with Astroscale for refueling the LEXI servicing spacecraft in GEO using Xenon propellant delivery systems. Orbit Fab has also secured U.S. government and commercial agreements focused on extending spacecraft operational lifetimes through orbital refueling services.

About Orbit Fab

Orbit Fab is a U.S.-based space infrastructure company headquartered in Lafayette, Colorado, focused on developing in-space refueling technologies and orbital propellant supply networks. Founded in 2018, the company specializes in refueling interfaces, orbital fuel depots, fuel shuttle systems, and mission planning software designed to support sustainable and long-duration satellite operations. Its technology portfolio is centered around the RAFTI refueling interface and scalable fuel logistics architectures that enable satellites to refuel in orbit across LEO, GEO and cislunar missions. Orbit Fab supports commercial, government, and defense customers requiring extended spacecraft lifetimes, increased maneuverability, and flexible orbital operations.

Click here to learn more about Orbit Fab's RAFTI