NASA hasannouncedit is developing a spacecraft that will refuel other artificial satellite in field . It has   award a $ 127 - million contract bridge to Space Systems Loral in California to build the space vehicle , called Restore - L.

The idea of fueling satellites has been around for a while . All satellites need propellant to keep their orbits , which give them a finite life . But if we could refuel them in orbit , their life could be lengthened indefinitely .

This particular delegation , which NASA hopes to launch by 2020 , would see the space vehicle sequester to NASA ’s Landsat 7 Earth - observing planet . It will use two robotic blazonry to attach to the artificial satellite , before transmit fuel at the veracious pressure and temperature .

If the trial is successful , this case of spacecraft could be used to fire other satellite in the futurity . It could also be used to move satellite in field and clean up space dust .

This will not be the first refueling mission to be execute in orbit . Back in 2013 , NASA test its Robotic Refueling Mission ( RRM ) on the International Space Station ( ISS ) , using the station ’s exposed quickness platform to test out the various tools that would be needed .

And in June this twelvemonth , China announced it hadsuccessfully refueledone of its satellite in orbit , but they did not reveal many details on how they did it , other than saying the process was similar to how planes can be refueled in the air .

" The injectant unconscious process was unchanging , and measure and mastery were precise , " the National University of Defense Technologysaidof the procedure , do by the Tianyuan-1 satellite .

Whoever can crack this applied science first will have access to a very moneymaking market . With sophisticated satellite cost in the hundreds of millions of buck to build and launching , being capable to refuel them rather of supervene upon them will be an invaluable power . Indeed , some delegacy – such as NASA ’s upcoming Wide - Field Infrared Survey Telescope ( WFIRST ) – are being design with refueling in mind .

And there are broader connotation , too . “ propellent terminal ” , orbiting spacecraft pack full of fuel , have often been touted as a mean value to explore the Solar System . Some are go for that minelaying water from asteroid might be a good way to get this fuel .

All eye will be on Restore - L in 2020 , then . If successful , it could be a game - changer .