EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Imagine a day in the future, during a potential conflict on Earth, when a geosynchronous (GEO) U.S. Space Force (USSF) satellite will be required to support terrestrial operations while simultaneously performing maneuvers to avoid a piece of debris or a threat from an adversary.
Like driving a car through an obstacle course, every satellite maneuver expends precious fuel. Too many maneuvers could completely expend a satellite’s fuel reserves, leaving it vulnerable to attack or collision. Either event could not only deprive the USSF of a vital space resource but lead to a debris cloud that could threaten other space assets for hundreds of years.
In today’s congested and contested space domain, enabling sustained satellite maneuvering is a priority for the USSF. Space Systems Command (SSC) is taking a key first step toward Dynamic Space Operations (DSO) by investigating the concept of on-orbit refueling. This work is being conducted by SSC’s Space Mobility and Logistics team.