SwRI's Staff Engineer Steve Thompson highlighted the issue of spacecraft running out of fuel while still being functionally sound, marking an untimely end to their missions. The APS-R seeks to address this by enabling the extension of missions through refueling, thus leveraging the full potential of satellites already deployed.
Positioned in geostationary orbit, APS-R will be capable of carrying hydrazine propellant from a depot situated in the same orbital plane to satellites requiring fuel. This capability is predicated on the compatibility of the spacecraft with the refueling port on APS-R.
Thompson also noted the emergence of other life-extension strategies, such as using thrusters to reposition satellites post-fuel depletion. However, the introduction of a refueling vehicle like APS-R adds a versatile alternative to these methods, broadening the scope for extending satellite missions.
The construction of APS-R's host vehicle will take place at SwRI's newly established 74,000-square-foot Space System Spacecraft and Payload Processing Facility, tailored for the rapid production and testing of small satellites and spacecraft. The APS-R, with its launch dimensions of 24-by-28-by-45 inches and a launch mass of 437 pounds, including propellant, represents a significant step forward in in-space servicing technology.
Upon completion, the integration of Astroscale's payload into the host spacecraft bus and subsequent system-level environmental tests will be conducted by SwRI. This phase will ensure the vehicle's readiness for a scheduled launch by 2026, marking a key milestone in space sustainability efforts.
Related Links
Southwest Research Institute
Space Technology News - Applications and Research
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