The POT announced a new consortium focused on making in-space service, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities are a routine part of space architectures and mission life cycles.
Through a range of capabilities, ISAM can enable new mission paradigms and extend the life of spacecraft, according to the agency.
Service in space encompasses activities including spacecraft repair, refueling, relocation and modernization, while assembly and manufacturing includes capabilities such as 3D printing and assembling components in space. Together, these capabilities can enable a more sustainable, robust, and long-lasting space ecosystem.
The COSMIC initiative
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) formulated and funds the COnsortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities (COSMIC). In February 2023, the agency selected The Aerospace Corporation to operate the pool. A kickoff meeting is planned for fall 2023.
Jim Reuter, Associate Administrator for STMD at NASA Headquarters in Washington, explained: “We seek to foster a national alliance between government, industry, nonprofit research institutions, and academia to ensure that the United States is the world leader in ISAM”.
“This new consortium provides a place for all parties to coordinate and collaborate on capability development, business cases, and mission applications.”.
The consortium aligns with the ISAM National Strategy and the ISAM National Implementation Plan published in 2022, providing an opportunity for collaboration between government, industry and academia to pursue common goals in ISAM capacity development.
For her part, Trudy Kortes, director of technology demonstrations at STMD, added: “NASA, government agencies, and industry have invested in ISAM robotic technologies for decades. Still, it’s rare that modern satellites are designed and built with things like grabbing, refueling, and other robotic repairs in mind. we want to change that”.