Space Force taking the long view of satellite servicing, with an industry in the balance

Space Force taking the long view of satellite servicing, with an industry in the balance
Space Force taking the long view of satellite servicing, with an industry in the balance

“I think the US national security community is going to shape commercial space for the foreseeable future,” Carissa Bryce Christensen, CEO of BryceTech, told Breaking Defense.

DARPA, SpaceLogistics step toward 2025 launch of orbital robotic ‘mechanic’ for satellites

DARPA, SpaceLogistics step toward 2025 launch of orbital robotic ‘mechanic’ for satellites
DARPA, SpaceLogistics step toward 2025 launch of orbital robotic ‘mechanic’ for satellites

The robotic arms built by the Naval Research Laboratory to be carried on a SpaceLogistics Mission Robotic Vehicle are designed to operate “autonomously” to do “inspection, orbital adjustment, repair and upgrade” missions on spacecraft “that were not designed to be grappled,” Bill Vincent, the lab’s program manager, told Breaking Defense.

Space gas stations: DIU to prototype commercial on-orbit satellite refueling

Space gas stations: DIU to prototype commercial on-orbit satellite refueling
Space gas stations: DIU to prototype commercial on-orbit satellite refueling

DIU is seeking companies with the “capability for bulk storage of liquid (>5,000 kg) and gaseous propellants on orbit,” including hydrazine, liquid oxygen and others.

SpaceLogistics sees potential defense market for orbital life-extension spacecraft

SpaceLogistics sees potential defense market for orbital life-extension spacecraft
SpaceLogistics sees potential defense market for orbital life-extension spacecraft

“It’s not just resiliency from a life-extension perspective” for the Space Force. said SpaceLogistics President Rob Hauge. “We’ve got the potential to actually include other payloads as well,”

China’s SJ-21 ‘tugs’ dead satellite out of GEO belt: Trackers

China’s SJ-21 ‘tugs’ dead satellite out of GEO belt: Trackers
China’s SJ-21 ‘tugs’ dead satellite out of GEO belt: Trackers

“I think there are more questions than answers right now when it comes to SJ-21,” Todd Harrison, director of CSIS’s Aerospace Project, told Breaking Defense.

AFRL jumpstarts early research on cislunar monitoring, satellite servicing

AFRL jumpstarts early research on cislunar monitoring, satellite servicing
AFRL jumpstarts early research on cislunar monitoring, satellite servicing

The SURI program is is aimed at transitioning “high risk, high reward ideas in science” to “applied technology and advanced technology development,” said Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, AFRL director.

SpaceLogistics Sat Servicing Mission Taps New Markets

SpaceLogistics Sat Servicing Mission Taps New Markets
SpaceLogistics Sat Servicing Mission Taps New Markets

“I see a great expansion in capability that will come as a result of this,” Anderson said of SpaceLogistic’s first robotic on-orbit servicing mission.

DARPA In Talks With New Robot Sat Servicing Company

DARPA In Talks With New Robot Sat Servicing Company
DARPA In Talks With New Robot Sat Servicing Company

The robot satellite known as RSGS will provide four types of service: inspection of anomalies that appear in a satellite’s operations; assist with adjustments to a satellite’s orbit; correct mechanical problems; and, help install new payloads to upgrade capabilities.