UARX’s OSSIE Spacecraft to Fly Dawn Aerospace’s Docking Port
A Scalable In-Orbit Refueling Architecture Designed and Built in Europe
A Docking and Fluidic Transfer (DFT) Port designed and developed by Dawn Aerospace will be integrated into UARX Space’s upcoming OSSIE OTV mission, scheduled for launch in 2026. The DFT Port is the hardware foundation of the company’s Loop Network: a scalable in-orbit refueling architecture designed and built in Europe. The mission marks a major step toward establishing a cooperative and refuelable European satellite ecosystem.
“OSSIE is evidence of European operators building responsibly while staying ahead of evolving regulation.”
Jeroen Wink, Dawn Aerospace
OSSIE, the first orbital transfer vehicle built entirely in Spain and one of only six in the world, continues to reach new milestones. On its first flight, OSSIE will become the first OTV to carry a Docking and Fluid Transfer (DFT) port developed by Dawn Aerospace, demonstrating that it is possible to build responsibly without losing technological efficiency and proposing an in-flight refueling system for future OTVs.
Supported by several European Commission programs currently under evaluation, Dawn’s Loop Network aims to extend spacecraft lifetimes, reduce orbital debris, and enable sustainable mission operations aligned with the EU Space Act, ESA’s Zero Debris Charter, and ISO 24113:2023 standards.
For this mission, the OSSIE OTV will carry a structural-only version of the DFT Port, paving the way for future spacecraft to adopt full fluidic functionality. This approach demonstrates both technical readiness and regulatory foresight: establishing the baseline for refuelling and servicing capability once European sustainability and safety frameworks fully mature.
The collaboration between UARX and Dawn Aerospace extends beyond hardware. Dawn’s SatDrive propulsion system will power the OSSIE spacecraft, while the integrated docking port opens the door for the satellite to be future-ready for inspection, servicing, or de-orbit operations. Together, these technologies form part of a new generation of responsible European spacecraft designed for longevity and accountability in orbit.
“OSSIE is evidence of European operators building responsibly while staying ahead of evolving regulation,” said Jeroen Wink, CRO and Co-founder at Dawn Aerospace. “The same interface that enables de-orbit today will enable refuelling tomorrow; that’s the foundation of the Loop network.”
“OSSIE demonstrates that UARX is committed to innovation in every sense, being the first OTV made in Spain and, with this new DFT, the first worldwide that will be able to take this docking device into orbit,” said Andrés Villa, CTO and Co-founder at UARX Space.
Dawn’s Loop Network will launch before 2030, enabling customers equipped with the DFT interface to access in-orbit refuelling and end-of-life servicing options. With OSSIE, UARX and Dawn are demonstrating that foresight and responsibility can go hand in hand, turning today’s design choices into tomorrow’s sustainable space infrastructure.