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 by Staff Writers Seattle WA (SPX) Mar 06, 2020
Xplore Inc have announced that they are integrating the Orbit Fab RAFTI into the Xcraft, Xplore's highly-capable, multi-mission ESPA-class spacecraft. The RAFTI, which stands for Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface, allows for reliable propellant transfers in the harshest space environments. It is ideal for mission destinations in any orbit, and thus aligns with Xplore's ability to fly missions at destinations from Earth to the Moon, Mars, Venus, LaGrange points, Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) and other locations in our inner solar system, more than 320 million km (200 million miles) from Earth. Xplore is one of the first commercial space companies to integrate Orbit Fab's RAFTI into the design of the Xcraft, and they view this port as an element that furthers commercialization of space exploration and performs the useful function of setting a refueling port standard for the industry. The RAFTI design will add extended life and maneuverability to all of Xplore's missions, allowing their highly mobile Xcraft satellites to achieve lower than typical lunar orbits, as well as keep them in GEO longer. As a commercial company, they can derive more value out of their orbital assets, all the while setting new standards across the industry. "Given the Xcraft's ability to fly in LEO and traverse the inner solar system, Xplore and Orbit Fab together advance opportunities for customers to achieve more mission objectives. When fuel conservation requirements are removed from the equation, in-space refueling eliminates propellant anxiety and allows our Xcraft to maneuver in multiple orbits and perform multiple missions previously out of reach. Re-fueling provides the powerful ability to change our orbit and fly closer to the surface of destinations such as the Moon, Mars, Venus and NEAs, where we can gather even more valuable data from our instruments," said Lisa Rich, founder and COO of Xplore. "This capability expands the services we can perform for customers, as it allows for missions we could not previously conduct given the inherent limitations of onboard propulsion. We expect RAFTI to extend the lifetime of our spacecraft, and add considerable value to our commercial missions." "Orbit Fab is excited to work with Xplore to augment their future mission capabilities by empowering them with our refueling architecture. As we supply RAFTI for their spacecraft, we are also working to introduce our fueling port design to as many uses as possible, which will allow RAFTI-enabled assets to improve their utilization and extend mission capabilities," stated Daniel Faber, co-founder and CEO of Orbit Fab. The docking and refueling standards that this partnership will reinforce help to drive the industry forward toward rapid growth and improved operational performance. Orbit Fab and Xplore's aligned strategies will foster growth for other companies in the commercial space sector who adapt the standard for effective propellant transfer.
Interference testing for Orion spacecraft begins Paris (ESA) Mar 04, 2020 Testing one, two and now, three. Radio frequency testing has begun on the first Orion spacecraft that will fly around the Moon for the Artemis 1 mission, just two weeks after thermal and environmental tests were completed at NASA's Plum Brook Station in Ohio, USA. Electromagnetic compatibility or EMC testing is routine for spacecraft. All electronics emit some form of electromagnetic waves that can cause interference with other devices. Think of the buzz that speakers give out right before an inco ... read more
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