Astroscale U.S. Refueler (APS-R)

Overview

Roughly 300 kg refueling spacecraft that transfers hydrazine to satellites in geostationary orbit, and refuels itself from an Orbit Fab propellant depot so it can service more than one client per mission.

Contracted under a Space Force agreement (about $25.5M in government funding plus roughly $12M from Astroscale) to perform the first-ever refueling of a United States Space Force asset, flying as part of the USSF-23 mission alongside an Orbit Fab propellant depot and a Starfish Space servicing tug. The vehicle will dock with an AFRL Tetra-5 client spacecraft, transfer propellant, run a hyperspectral leak check, refuel at the Orbit Fab depot, and then service the Tetra-5 client again over a six-month window. The Space Force now targets the early-2027 timeframe for the launch, more precisely dated than the earlier 2026 mission framing.

Key Specs

Spacecraft Mass

~300 kg

Contract Value

~$25.5M in Space Force funding plus ~$12M from Astroscale U.S.

Clients Per Mission

AFRL Tetra-5 spacecraft, refueled twice, plus a depot refuel of itself

Propellant Transferred

Hydrazine, in geostationary orbit