Synopsis
The report was published by NASA’s Satellite Servicing Capabilities Project team. It captures findings from their study on developing on-orbit satellite servicing capabilities. Here are the key points from the report:
- Many complex satellite servicing tasks have already been demonstrated in orbit, like with the Hubble Space Telescope repairs. However, more work is needed in areas like operating further from Earth, increased autonomy, and servicing satellites not designed for servicing.
- The team identified 6 notional missions to demonstrate servicing capabilities in unexplored areas.
- Satellite servicing can provide benefits like life extension, risk reduction, and enabling new mission capabilities. It supports US leadership in space across scientific, commercial, and strategic interests.
- Near-term ground testing and flight demonstrations are recommended to mature key servicing technologies like rendezvous, docking, refueling, and robotics.
- International standards will need to be established to enable future responsible and safe servicing activities in space.
The report concludes satellite servicing is viable using current technologies and provides a roadmap for maturing capabilities through ground and flight testing. It highlights the importance of satellite servicing for maintaining US leadership in space.
