Quantum Space has been awarded a Department of War Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF) contract to develop and demonstrate a fuel depot spacecraft designed to enable in-space refueling and extend the operational lifetimes of existing spacecraft, according to a press release from the company.

The fuel depot will be built on Quantum Space's Ranger platform, which the company describes as a maneuverable spacecraft using a patented multimode propulsion system that combines chemical and electric propulsion on a single vehicle with a single fuel type. The depot is intended to support U.S. Space Force operations across multiple orbital regimes, including geostationary orbit and cislunar space.

"National security in space depends on the ability to maneuver, adapt, and sustain operations over time," said Jim Bridenstine, CEO of Quantum Space. "This fuel depot contract is a transformational step toward building the in-space logistics architecture the United States requires for resilient, enduring space operations."

Quantum Space also holds a separate contract with the U.S. Space Force for the Andromeda program, which also focuses on on-orbit refueling and logistics capabilities.

Chris DePuma, OECIF's Operational Energy and Combat Power portfolio lead, said the award "accelerates the deployment of critical refueling infrastructure, answering the urgent call for a persistent, maneuverable space logistics network."

The company recently announced a proposed business combination with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI (Nasdaq: IPFX) that is expected to result in a Nasdaq listing later this year, subject to shareholder approvals and regulatory clearances.