(SURI) BREAKING THE LAUNCH ONCE, USE ONCE PARADIGM
Abstract
Satellites are uniquely alone in their environment. They are launched with everything they need for their entire mission, from initial operational capability (IOC) to end-of- life. Government and commercial satellite operators are beginning to recognize that their current fleets last longer than their anticipated design life and find it increasingly hard to compete with terrestrial systems that enjoy rapid technology refresh cycles. With some minimum exceptions, the ability to physically upgrade, refuel, or repair satellites once they are on orbit does not currently exist; little manufacturing is done in space as well. On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM) activities - up-close inspection, intentional and beneficial changes to resident space objects, and manufacturing on orbit - can have significant implications on many aspects of current satellites and the way future satellites are designed and operated. Carnegie Mellon, the University of New Mexico and Texas AandM, along with their government lab and industrial partners, most notably Northrop Grumman, have formed a consortium to create a new fundamental basic research program that runs the pipeline through applied research, all the way to test-beds for flight proven systems. In doing so, this consortium will advance three basic revolutionary components in our proposed research endeavor- intelligent on-orbit inspection, dexterous on-orbit maintenance, and agile on-orbit manufacturing. Advancement of robotics technology, and the prospect of attracting a wider variety of customers, are now driving the development of a promising On-Orbit-Service (OOS) commercial market as client operators conclude that OOS will be vital to their future businesses. Therefore, our goal is to develop and transition critical concepts from this consortium to further revolutionize military technologies for both government and commercial use. This three-way partnership among academia, government and industry will play a critical role in enhancing DoD- relevant capability in the space domain.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502210093
Entities
People
- Howard Choset
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Carnegie Mellon University
- United States Air Force