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Astrobotic

Orbit Fab Tanker-002

[SPC]· 2024
72.6

ROBOSCORE™ METHODOLOGY — 9 DIMENSIONS

Performance22%
Reliability20%
Ease of Use15%
Intelligence15%
Vendor Reliability10%
Value9%
Ecosystem7%
Safety5%
Design4%

Independently verified.
Not manufacturer-provided.

$12.0M

What problem does this solve?

Space Robotics applications.

Who is this for?

Enterprise operations teams with dedicated automation budgets and integration requirements.

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Updated Mar 2026·4/4 data completeness·Report an error
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AstroboticOrbit Fab Tanker-002

BEST FOR

Space Robotics applications

AVOID IF

Budget is primary constraint and manual alternatives exist

PAYBACK

TBD

COMPLEXITY

TBD

In-space refueling depot and tanker. Uses RAFTI fuel port standard. Stores and transfers hydrazine to client satellites in orbit. Enables indefinite satellite life extension.

The Orbit Fab Tanker-002 earns a RoboScore of 72.6/100, placing it in the solid tier for space applications robots. At $12.0M it sits in the premium enterprise segment, making it a reasonable choice for teams where overall capability and reliability is the priority. Astrobotic delivers a competent platform at this price point. Deployment requirements vary by facility — consult the manufacturer.

Organizations with strategic automation mandates, dedicated robotics teams, and capital budgets above $500K. If overall capability and reliability is your primary decision criterion, the Orbit Fab Tanker-002 deserves a place on your shortlist.

Any operation without a clear, validated ROI model showing payback within 24 months. If your requirements center on a different set of capabilities, compare alternatives in the space category before committing.

Performance
7625%
Reliability
7220%
Ease of Use
5815%
Intelligence
7815%
Value
8010%
Ecosystem
688%
Safety
825%
Design
652%

Other

FuelHydrazine
TypeFuel depot + tanker
OrbitLEO/GEO capable
AutonomyAutonomous rendezvous
InterfaceRAFTI standard port
Capacity Kg300

The Real Cost of Ownership

Purchase price is only 40-60% of the true cost. Here's the full picture.

Purchase Costs

MSRP

$12.0M

CURRENT

$12.0M

Operating Costs (Annual)

MAINTENANCE LOW

MAINTENANCE HIGH

5-Year Summary

$12.0M

Purchase price + estimated 5 years maintenance

2
$25/hr
1
$12,000,000

Monthly savings

$8,333

Payback period

N/A

3-year net ROI

-97%

5-year savings

-$11,500,000

IntervalTaskEst. Cost
DailyVisual inspection & debris removal
WeeklySensor calibration check & log review
MonthlyLubrication, belt/chain tension check$50–150
6-MonthFull mechanical inspection & software update$500–2,000
AnnualComprehensive overhaul & recalibration$2,000–10,000

Service Details

Warranty:Contact Vendor
Support:Contact Vendor
Response:Contact Vendor
Spare Parts:Contact Vendor

Operator Training

Contact Vendor

Typical Training Plan

SAFETY & BASICS

2–4 hours

OPERATIONS

4–16 hours

TROUBLESHOOTING

2–8 hours

MAINTENANCE

4–16 hours

Before purchasing the Orbit Fab Tanker-002, ask the vendor these critical questions:

  1. 01What is the total cost of ownership over 5 years?
  2. 02What does the warranty cover, and what's excluded?
  3. 03What is your average response time for critical issues?
  4. 04Can you provide references from similar deployments?
  5. 05Is a pilot program available before full commitment?

... and 15 more critical questions

72.6/ 100
Performance
7625%
Reliability
7220%
Ease of Use
5815%
Intelligence
7815%
Value
8010%
Ecosystem
688%
Safety
825%
Design
652%

Purchase Price

$12.0M

Est. Annual Maintenance

Est. $1.8M–$2.4M/year (15–20%)

5-Year Total

Requires pricing data

Cost per Shift

Cost per Hour

Based on industry averages. Actual costs vary.

Astrobotic

Founded

EST. 2007(19 years)

Funding

Undisclosed

Employees

Undisclosed

HQ

US

Vendor Health Score

Health score pending verification

Certifications data being verified. Contact manufacturer for compliance documentation.

Not sure if Orbit Fab Tanker-002 is right for you? Ask Robotimus.

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How much does the Orbit Fab Tanker-002 cost?
The Orbit Fab Tanker-002 is currently priced at $12.0M. Total cost of ownership including maintenance, integration, and training is typically 1.5-2.5x the purchase price over 5 years.
What certification do I need to operate the Orbit Fab Tanker-002?
Operators should hold at minimum an RCO Foundation (Level 1) certification. For programming and integration work, RCO Specialist (Level 2) is recommended.
How long does it take to deploy the Orbit Fab Tanker-002?
Deployment timelines for Space Robotics robots typically range from 2-12 weeks depending on facility complexity and integration requirements.
Should I buy, lease, or hire the Orbit Fab Tanker-002?
Buy if you plan to use it for 3+ years at high utilization. Lease (typically $333,333/month) if you want flexibility and upgrades. Hire through RoboWork if you need it for a project or pilot — no capital expenditure required.
How does the Orbit Fab Tanker-002 compare to alternatives?
With a RoboScore of 72.6/100, the Orbit Fab Tanker-002 scores competitively for Space Robotics. Use our comparison tool to evaluate it against up to 2 other robots across all 8 scoring dimensions.