The spacecraft maintenance platform, which will be installed at the new Russian orbital station, will allow not only retrofitting and repairing satellites, but also refueling them. This was stated by the General Designer of RSC Energia Vladimir Solovyov.

“A partially pressurized spacecraft servicing platform will be delivered to ROSS, on which it will be possible to re-equip, refuel and re-send new automatic spacecraft into orbit,” Solovyov said in an interview with Russian Space magazine.

He specified that the platform will be delivered to the station during the second stage of its deployment in orbit, which will begin in 2030.

The platform will allow working with inspector satellites that will inspect the station from the outside, Roy grouping devices that will detect approaching objects, as well as Earth remote sensing satellites. In addition, there are plans to work with high-speed communication spacecraft and tug satellites to transport faulty vehicles to the station.

There is no such system on the International Space Station. At the same time, Solovyov noted that the Soviet rocket scientists worked out the possibility of refueling in space back in 1978. “The Europeans even bought this system from us for their ATV cargo ship, and it’s a sin not to use it to refuel satellites,” he said.

He also added that the US has already developed a tug to move faulty satellites in orbit. The same system is to be developed by Russian engineers.

bbabo.Net