The APS-R, developed by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in collaboration with the US Space Force and aerospace company Astroscale US, is a spacecraft that aims to combat the common problem faced by thousands of satellites and spacecraft orbiting Earth: running out of fuel. This often leads to satellites becoming inoperative even when their equipment is still functional.
The solution to this issue is a spacecraft called Astroscale Prototype Servicer for Refueling (APS-R), which will be used to refuel compatible vehicles in geostationary orbit, where many telecommunications satellites are located. The spacecraft will move in a circular orbit that matches the Earth’s rotation period, allowing it to transport hydrazine propellant from storage to satellites in need of fuel. It will be able to service any spacecraft equipped with a compatible refueling port.
Development of the APS-R involves building a “spaceship bus” at SwRI’s Space Systems Orbiter and Payload Handling Facility, which was built for assembling and testing small spacecraft efficiently. Once the spacecraft bus is completed, cargo provided by Astroscale will be integrated and environmental testing will be conducted before launch. SwRI aims to have the APS-R ready for launch within the next 16 months.
