Astroscale U.S. Inc. will conduct two refueling operations of a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) satellite in GEO for the United States Space Force (USSF)—this mission will demonstrate the ability of commercial Servicing, Mobility and Logistics providers to deliver on-orbit capabilities supporting the warfighter—the Astroscale U.S. Refueler is manifested for launch during the summer of 2026.
The Astroscale U.S. Refueler (APS-R) will be the first spacecraft to conduct hydrazine refueling operations above GEO and will be the first-ever, on-orbit refueling mission supporting a DoD asset. Designed for maneuverability, the 300-kilogram spacecraft will carry a refillable hydrazine tank, supporting refueling for a client spacecraft during two planned operations and enabling an end-to-end refueling ecosystem with a client, servicer and depot in space.
This mission will establish space heritage for scalable refueling services, a critical step toward enabling sustained maneuverability. Astroscale U.S. selected Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to build the bus and Orbit Fab’s refueling interfaces; the Astroscale U.S. Refueler is part of a growing commercial ecosystem supporting dynamic space operations and enhanced options for mission planning, resilience and responsiveness.
This SSC agreement modification to Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) Space Mobility and Logistics prototype project (23-05) executes reserved scope to transition APS-R, the Astroscale U.S. Refueler, to full mission development and operational demonstration. SSC released the SML Request for Prototype Proposal through SpEC to accelerate in-space capabilities, including refueling, transportation, servicing and debris mitigation.
We’re changing the reality of what’s possible,” said Ron Lopez, President of Astroscale U.S. “This mission proves that in-space logistics does not have to be years away. We’re a focused team with one goal: deliver and operate an operational prototype spacecraft for the Space Force. That’s only possible because of our agile structure, solution-oriented design, close collaboration with Space Systems Command’s Servicing Mobility and Logistics program office and our incredible team. The Astroscale U.S. Refueler is proof that commercial space companies can develop and deliver new, operational capabilities on time and on budget.”
We’re not just enabling a refueling mission — we’re laying the groundwork for scalable, flexible logistics across space,” said Ian Thomas, Astroscale U.S. Refueler Program Manager. “This is infrastructure that expands options for the warfighter and demonstrates what rapid innovation looks like in action.”
About Astroscale U.S.
Astroscale U.S. Inc., headquartered in Denver, Colorado, is a leading provider of on-orbit servicing solutions and capabilities — including inspection, space domain awareness, transportation, life extension, debris removal and refueling — for the U.S. government and commercial operators around the world. Astroscale U.S. applies world-class mission design and rendezvous, proximity operations and docking capabilities to solve the complex challenges our customers face. Astroscale U.S., the American subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings, is dedicated to Astroscale’s vision of ensuring the safe and sustainable development of space for future generations.