In-Orbit Demonstration of OrbFIX: a High-Accuracy PNT Device for LEO Satellites

OrbFIX is a high-accuracy positioning device designed for small satellites operating in LEO, and is developed by Romanian InSpace Engineering under a series of ESA contracts. It integrates a multi-band, multi-constellation GNSS receiver tracking all available signals with a Precise Point Positioning (PPP) algorithm that implements Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) corrections to provide a sub-decimeter (<10 cm) positioning solution on low-Earth orbits. In addition, it utilizes feed-forward trained neural networks that can be used in a low-power consumption mode to reshape the trajectory predicted by orbital propagators, thus improving the satellite’s positioning estimations by 30%. OrbFIX uses radiation-hardened components, being designed for high-reliability missions, and is compatible with CubeSats or larger smallsat platforms, being able to accommodate low energy consumption demands.

The in-orbit demonstration (IOD) mission for OrbFIX serves as the first space-based qualification test for the device and aims to validate its reliability and performance in the LEO environment. OrbFIX is hosted on board EMISAR, a 1U CubeSat launched on a 510-km Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) by the SpaceX Transporter-16 mission in March 2026. Before the IOD, the device has successfully been subjected to an extensive environmental test campaign, including thermal vacuum cycling, vibration testing, proton flux, and total ionizing dose. Its positioning performance was validated using a hardware-in-the-loop RF simulation, generating GNSS signals for LEO satellites.

Following the IOD mission, OrbFIX’s high-accuracy navigation solution is envisioned to enable the execution of complex mission operations, such as in-orbit servicing, close-proximity operations, formation flying, as well as support space debris mitigation practices by improving spacecraft trackability for collision avoidance purposes.