Space-Based Propellant Refueling Market Report 2025

The space-based propellant refueling market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $2.09 billion in 2024 to $2.38 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to the increasing number of satellite launches, growing demand for satellite life extension services, rising focus on space sustainability and debris mitigation, increased investments in commercial space infrastructure, and the growing adoption of reusable and serviceable spacecraft platforms.

The space-based propellant refueling market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.98 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing military and defense space applications, rising technological advancements in robotic docking and autonomous refueling, growing need for deep space exploration and lunar missions, supportive government policies and international collaborations, and the expanding development of the on-orbit servicing ecosystem. Major trends expected during this period include advancements in autonomous docking and rendezvous systems, integration of robotic arms and standardized refueling interfaces, technological maturity in handling both cryogenic and non-cryogenic fuels, development of on-orbit fuel depot infrastructure, and progress in in-space manufacturing and modular satellite design.

The increasing number of satellite launches is expected to propel the growth of the space-based propellant refueling market going forward. Satellite launches refer to the process of deploying artificial satellites into space using launch vehicles or rockets. The rise in satellite launches is driven by the growing need for global connectivity, as more regions pursue reliable internet access through satellite-based broadband services. Space-based propellant refueling supports satellite launches by enabling in-orbit fuel replenishment, which reduces the need for fully fueled liftoffs. It enhances launch flexibility and extends the operational life of satellites, thereby improving the efficiency of space missions. For example, in September 2022, the Government Accountability Office, a US-based government agency, reported nearly 5,500 active satellites in Earth orbit, with projections estimating an additional 58,000 launches by 2030. Therefore, the increasing number of satellite launches is driving the growth of the space-based propellant refueling market.

Major companies operating in the space-based propellant refueling market are developing advanced technologies, such as satellite refueling ports, to increase mission lifespan, lower operational costs, and support sustainable space initiatives. Satellite refueling ports are standardized interfaces designed to enable spacecraft to receive fuel in orbit, allowing them to operate longer and avoid early replacement. For example, in March 2024, Orbit Fab Inc., a US-based space refueling technology firm, launched the Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface (RAFTI). RAFTI is compatible with a wide range of satellite propulsion systems and supports the transfer of several types of propellants, including hydrazine, xenon, and green monopropellants. The system enables fast and secure in-orbit refueling and simplifies the servicing process. It is intended to promote a more sustainable space ecosystem by allowing satellites to be maintained and reused instead of being decommissioned after fuel depletion.

In July 2023, L3Harris Technologies Inc., a US-based aerospace and defense technology company, acquired Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. for $4.7 billion. Through this acquisition, L3Harris plans to boost its propulsion capabilities by incorporating Aerojet Rocketdyne’s experience in rocket engines and energetics, reinforcing its role in missile defense, hypersonic development, and space propulsion. Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. is a US-based propulsion systems provider that contributes to the space-based propellant refueling market.

Major players in the space-based propellant refueling market are Airbus SE, Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Blue Origin Enterprises L.P., Argo Space Corporation, Maxar Technologies Inc., Rocket Lab USA Inc., Astroscale Holdings Inc., D-Orbit S.p.A., Impulse Space Inc., ClearSpace SA, Orbit Fab Inc., Tethers Unlimited Inc., Xplore Inc., Eta Space LLC, Ethos Space Inc., Momentus Inc., Obruta Space Solutions Corp., Infinite Composites Technologies Inc., Altius Space Machines Inc., Starfish Space Inc.

North America was the largest region in the space-based propellant refueling market in 2024. The regions covered in space-based propellant refueling report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the space-based propellant refueling market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

Space-based propellant refueling is the process of transferring fuel and oxidizer to spacecraft while they are in orbit or deep space, allowing them to replenish their propulsion systems without returning to Earth. This capability extends the operational life and range of satellites and spacecraft, supports long-duration missions beyond low Earth orbit, and enables the use of reusable space vehicles by reducing the amount of fuel that must be launched from Earth.

The primary propellant types used in space-based propellant refueling are cryogenic propellants and non-cryogenic propellants. Cryogenic propellants are rocket fuels stored in liquid form at extremely low temperatures, such as liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, offering high efficiency for propulsion. These propellants are utilized in various applications, including satellite refueling, spacecraft refueling, space station refueling, and more. They serve a wide range of end users, including commercial entities, military organizations, government agencies, and others.

The space-based propellant refueling market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides space-based propellant refueling market statistics, including space-based propellant refueling industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a space-based propellant refueling market share, detailed space-based propellant refueling market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the space-based propellant refueling industry. The space-based propellant refueling market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The space-based propellant refueling market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as in-orbit refueling operations, fuel depot deployment and maintenance, propellant transfer logistics, spacecraft servicing, orbital maneuvering support, and mission extension services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The space-based propellant refueling market also includes sales of fuel depots, docking and transfer systems, autonomous navigation systems, robotic arms, and cryogenic fuel storage tanks. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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