Imagine if you could upgrade your phone by simply snapping on a new battery or camera module without replacing the whole device. This project does that for satellites, creating a set of standard 'LEGO-like' blocks that can be swapped or added while the satellite is already in orbit. It specifically focuses on a refillable fuel tank that can be plugged in to keep a satellite running longer.
Satellites are currently built as single, rigid units that cannot be repaired or upgraded once launched. This leads to expensive mission failures and creates space debris when a simple component like a fuel tank runs dry.
A refuellable Tank (RTa) module and a 'Design and Development Specification for the Spacecraft Construction Kit' (DSSCK) including a software suite with alpha and beta releases.
If you are a satellite integrator dealing with rigid designs that cannot be updated after launch — this project developed a construction kit (DSSCK) that allows for late-stage integration and modular upgrades. This means you can offer more flexible missions to your clients.
If you are a servicing company dealing with the high cost of replacing dead satellites — this project developed a refuellable Tank (RTa) module. This enables life extension services by simply replacing or refilling fuel modules in space.
If you are a component maker dealing with fragmented standards for different satellite brands — this project developed a set of standardized hardware and software interfaces. This allows you to build one module that fits into a unified ecosystem of different satellites.
Based on available project data, specific pricing or cost figures are not provided, though the project aims to make solutions more affordable through standardization.
The project has developed a construction kit (DSSCK) and a specific refuellable tank module to support the transition to a modular space economy, but full industrial scale is not yet detailed.
Based on available project data, the specific licensing terms for the DSSCK and software suites are not mentioned.
It uses standardized hardware and software interfaces designed to be compatible with a pre-defined ecosystem, allowing for late-stage integration.
The project period runs from 2023-01-01 to 2025-04-30, with deliverables including alpha and beta software releases.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven with an 80% industry ratio, consisting of 5 partners across 4 countries. The presence of 4 industrial entities and 1 research entity, led by an SME (Space Applications Services NV), suggests a strong focus on commercial viability and practical application rather than purely theoretical research.
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