RPO Kit
A plug-and-play payload that uses cameras and onboard AI to let a spacecraft track a target and dock with it autonomously, picked by Orbit Fab for a 2028 refueling mission.
Why it matters
Refueling, repair and debris removal all depend on reliable close approach and docking, which is still rare and costly. An off-the-shelf kit lets more companies attempt these missions without building the navigation themselves.
How the technology works
Blackswan's vision-based navigation software identifies and tracks a target and estimates its position and orientation in real time, at 10 Hz or faster, on board. The company quotes docking accuracy within 4 mm and 0.5 degrees and has tested it at ESA's GRALS lab facility.
An in-orbit test is planned for Q4 2027, and Orbit Fab's ASTRAL refueling mission, backed by ESA and the UK Space Agency, plans to use it in 2028.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction