Polish satellite technology will be used in a European demonstration mission focused on refuelling satellites in orbit. Creotech Instruments S.A., Poland’s largest space mission integrator listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, has been selected by OrbitFab—one of the global pioneers of commercial in-orbit satellite refuelling technology—to participate in the ASTRAL project, carried out in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA).
As part of the mission, Creotech Instruments’ HyperSat satellite platform will serve as the basis for the construction of two spacecraft designed to demonstrate docking and fuel transfer in orbit.
Creotech Instruments S.A. will supply two proprietary HyperSat platforms forming the basis of the mission’s Servicer and Target satellites. At launch, the two spacecraft will be carried into orbit as an integrated piggyback configuration connected by a docking interface.
Once they reach their target orbit, the satellites will perform a series of experiments involving fuel transfer, separation, proximity manoeuvres and redocking. The mission is scheduled to take place in 2028–2029.
The ASTRAL project is a European initiative designed to advance In-Orbit Servicing technologies. These include autonomous docking and Rendezvous and Proximity Operations, or RPO, involving the precise manoeuvring, approach and safe physical connection of two satellites operating in the same orbit, as well as the transfer of fuel between them.
In the future, such technologies are expected to extend the operational lifetimes of satellites, improve mission efficiency and support the development of a new market segment focused on servicing spacecraft in orbit.
“The selection of the HyperSat platform by OrbitFab for the ASTRAL mission confirms the maturity of our technology and its competitiveness in the international space market. At the same time, it opens the door for us to the field of in-orbit satellite servicing, which is expected to become one of the fastest-growing areas of the space economy in the coming years,” said Dr Grzegorz Brona, President of the Management Board of Creotech Instruments S.A.
“Participation in this project allows us to develop expertise that may be used in future commercial and institutional space missions, strengthening Creotech Instruments’ position as a supplier of advanced satellite platforms for demanding and pioneering applications,” he added.
International Cooperation on a Pioneering Mission
OrbitFab is the project leader and mission integrator. The company is one of the pioneers of infrastructure enabling in-orbit refuelling and has secured contracts to supply fuel to satellites, including spacecraft operated by the United States Space Force.
The ASTRAL project is being implemented by an international consortium comprising partners from the United Kingdom, Austria, Lithuania and Poland.
Creotech Instruments S.A. is carrying out the first phase of the ASTRAL project, valued at approximately EUR 250,000. The company’s scope of work covers an eight-month period and focuses on preparing system documentation for both satellite platforms.
This includes technical requirements, Interface Control Documents for the platforms, payload, ground segment and Ground Support Equipment, as well as plans and analyses relating to assembly, integration and testing, risk assessment and licensing requirements.
The development of In-Orbit Servicing services, including satellite refuelling, docking and maintenance, is one of the most important directions in the transformation of the global space market.
In the future, these technologies may extend the operational lives of satellites, reduce mission costs and improve the efficiency with which existing orbital infrastructure is used. They are also strategically important, particularly given the growing role of space systems in supporting national security and resilience.
Creotech Instruments’ participation in the ASTRAL project represents another stage in the development of capabilities extending beyond its existing, though strategically important, activities involving the construction of satellites for military and civilian purposes.
The company already serves as a leader and key technology partner in programmes such as MikroGlob, CAMILA and PIAST. It has also gained experience in On-Orbit Servicing through Phase B of the InSPoC-1 mission and the ongoing RAVEN project.
ASTRAL expands these capabilities to include technologies associated with refuelling satellites in orbit. In the coming years, this area may become one of the major pillars of the space economy.
The ability to extend the operational lives of satellites without frequently replenishing entire constellations is important not only commercially, but also strategically.
Following NATO’s recognition of space as its fifth operational domain in 2019, the ability to service satellites and extend their lifecycles has become an increasingly important element of defence capability planning and efforts to strengthen the resilience of space infrastructure used for security purposes.
Creotech Instruments’ position as a key partner in such a demanding project is consistent with the company’s strategy of developing advanced satellite platforms and expanding its involvement in international space programmes with high technological value.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/creotech-dostarczy-platformy-hypersat-do-misji-astral-54101
