Robotic In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing encompasses the tools, technologies, and techniques to enhance existing space assets and to construct new ones. Challenges in this arena are wide-ranging, including rendezvous and proximity operations, grapple and berthing methodology, force-sensitive manipulation, tool design, and in-situ resource utilization.
Servicing capabilities will enable such operations as life extension, instrument upgrade, refueling, and resolution of deployment anomalies. Assembly facilitates the construction of larger structures at lower cost, including space telescopes, large radio reflector systems, and space-based solar power platforms. Manufacturing enables the utilization of in-situ resources, avoiding the slow timeline and high expense of transporting supplies from the ground.
The goal of this Research Topic is to help characterize the use cases of ISAM (In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing), capture new and emerging ISAM technologies and challenges, promote discussion of interface and process standards and other means to ensure a coherent ecosystem of capabilities, and to foster innovation and collaboration among all interested parties.
Capabilities in this area hold the potential to revolutionize space operations, making them more economical and sustainable while improving system lifetime, enhancing resilience, and compressing the timeline to implement new capabilities and adapt to emerging needs.
This Research Topic collection includes, but is not limited to:
• The application of robotic systems to in-space inspection, life extension, repair, refueling, upgrade
• Construction from pre-manufactured components
• Manufacturing of components from raw materials
(All of the above while on-orbit, on the surface of a celestial body or in transit between these sites.)
Robotic In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing encompasses the tools, technologies, and techniques to enhance existing space assets and to construct new ones. Challenges in this arena are wide-ranging, including rendezvous and proximity operations, grapple and berthing methodology, force-sensitive manipulation, tool design, and in-situ resource utilization.
Servicing capabilities will enable such operations as life extension, instrument upgrade, refueling, and resolution of deployment anomalies. Assembly facilitates the construction of larger structures at lower cost, including space telescopes, large radio reflector systems, and space-based solar power platforms. Manufacturing enables the utilization of in-situ resources, avoiding the slow timeline and high expense of transporting supplies from the ground.
The goal of this Research Topic is to help characterize the use cases of ISAM (In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing), capture new and emerging ISAM technologies and challenges, promote discussion of interface and process standards and other means to ensure a coherent ecosystem of capabilities, and to foster innovation and collaboration among all interested parties.
Capabilities in this area hold the potential to revolutionize space operations, making them more economical and sustainable while improving system lifetime, enhancing resilience, and compressing the timeline to implement new capabilities and adapt to emerging needs.
This Research Topic collection includes, but is not limited to:
• The application of robotic systems to in-space inspection, life extension, repair, refueling, upgrade
• Construction from pre-manufactured components
• Manufacturing of components from raw materials
(All of the above while on-orbit, on the surface of a celestial body or in transit between these sites.)
