San Francisco-based Orbit Fab, a startup aiming to build a network of orbital gas stations, announced its plans to launch the first propellant tanker to geostationary orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 lunar lander mission scheduled between late 2022 and early 2023. The tanker will be able to store more than 200 pounds of hydrazine fuel for up to 15 years, extending the lifespan of satellites by years.
Zoom Out: Orbit Fab plans to send fuel shuttles to orbit over the next couple of years. The infrastructure they plant to set up will involve tankers containing a lot of fuel and fuel shuttles transferring the fuel between the tankers and operational spacecraft. Orbital gas stations are one of the key puzzle pieces in creating a viable space infrastructure for economic activities and exploration. The company raised over $10 Million in funding from Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin earlier in September.
