Astroscale awarded Southwest Research Institute a roughly $17 million subcontract to build a spacecraft capable of refueling other craft in orbit.
For decades, running out of fuel typically has meant the end of the mission for spacecraft orbiting Earth. Now, however, Southwest Research Institute is building a sort of space gas truck that could eliminate that limitation. The nonprofit research organization’s growing space program will build, integrate and test a small demonstration fueling spacecraft as a subcontractor for Astroscale U.S., a Denver-based space services company, as part of a $25.5 million contract with the U.S. Space Force.
“The whole idea is to just demonstrate that we can do these close-proximity operations,” Epperly said. Close-proximity operations refer to instances when multiple spacecraft are near each other. During such operations, while approaching another satellite, caution is required, Epperly said, “because they’re very expensive.” “We can… go through the autonomous operation of exchanging fuel and then pulling away and safely leaving the gas station,” he said.
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