PIAP Space develops a standard for capturing satellites in orbit

Warsaw, 7 April 2026 - Standard Gripping Fixture (SGF), developed by PIAP Space, will enable safe and repeatable capture of satellites in orbit, supporting future servicing, refuelling and debris-mitigation missions while contributing to a more sustainable and serviceable space environment.

Artemis II misson is on its way to Earth. In the meantime the growing number of satellites in orbit is fundamentally changing how space infrastructure must be managed. What was once a domain of single-use missions is rapidly becoming an environment that requires maintenance, repair, relocation, and end-of-life management. Standard Gripping Fixture (SGF), developed by PIAP Space, is part of a broader shift toward enabling safe, repeatable physical interaction with satellites in orbit, supporting servicing missions while helping address the increasing problem of space debris. By introducing a standardised mechanical interface specifically designed for robotic operations, SGF helps build the technical foundations for a more sustainable, serviceable space ecosystem.

The scale of the challenge is increasing year by year and is no longer theoretical. Thousands of active satellites orbit Earth today, with many more planned for the coming decade as large constellations continue to expand across multiple orbital regimes. At the same time, a growing number of spacecraft are reaching the end of their operational lifetime, often remaining in orbit as inactive objects with no clear removal strategy. Without the ability to service, refuel, repair, or safely remove them, these satellites become potential collision risks, especially in heavily populated orbits. Each collision generates additional fragments, further increasing congestion and operational hazards for both existing and future missions. In extreme scenarios, this can trigger a cascading chain reaction known as the Kessler Syndrome, in which debris from one collision triggers further collisions, potentially making entire orbital regions difficult, or even impossible, to use. Addressing this challenge requires not only improved tracking and avoidance systems but also the ability to physically interact with satellites in a controlled, predictable, and repeatable way.

One of the key technical barriers to enabling such operations is the lack of standardised interfaces for capturing satellites. Most spacecraft currently in orbit were not designed with servicing in mind, forcing operators to rely on complex, non-standardised approaches to grasp irregular geometries or structural elements not intended for mechanical interaction. Standard Gripping Fixture (SGF) addresses this by introducing a passive mechanical interface specifically designed for grappling, berthing, and docking of prepared satellites. Its distinctive geometry and cross-sections are compatible with systems used to capture the Launch Adapter Ring (LAR), allowing the same robotic end-effector or docking mechanism to be used for both unprepared and prepared satellites. This compatibility significantly increases operational flexibility, reduces system complexity, and allows mission designers to rely on a single, unified capture approach across different mission scenarios. SGF can be integrated into spacecraft without strict placement constraints and supports a wide range of applications, including satellite capture and stabilisation, in-orbit servicing, transportation, repositioning, and controlled deorbiting, while maintaining structural characteristics similar to those of existing launch interfaces.

In practice, SGF is not a standalone solution but a key element of PIAP Space's broader in-orbit servicing ecosystem. When combined with robotic arms, advanced vision systems, force-torque sensors, and end-effectors such as LARIS, it enables a complete operational chain—from initial approach and soft capture, through relative motion stabilisation and secure holding, to precise mechanical interaction with the target satellite. In this context, SGF enables safe capture and stabilisation required for servicing operations, creating the conditions for more advanced activities such as inspection, repair of critical subsystems, refuelling, component replacement, or even the relocation of satellites between different orbital slots. The introduction of such interfaces represents a step toward standardising on-orbit servicing, allowing future missions to move away from one-off, highly customised approaches toward more predictable, scalable servicing architectures.

Technologies enabling on-orbit servicing are currently being validated within European programmes and are expected to transition from demonstration missions to operational use within this decade. As satellite operators face increasing pressure to extend mission lifetimes, optimise operational costs, and comply with stricter debris mitigation requirements, interfaces such as SGF are likely to become a standard consideration in spacecraft design. Their adoption could fundamentally change how satellites are built and operated, shifting the industry toward a model in which servicing, repair, and end-of-life management are not afterthoughts but integral elements of mission architecture from the very beginning.

More information about SGF and other technologies developed by PIAP Space can be found at: www.piap.space