Episode 3 explores the budding in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) sector of the space industry.  

Guests Joe Anderson of SpaceLogistics, Vanessa Clark of Katalyst Space Technologies and Greg Richardson of COSMIC set the record straight on the state of the ISAM market, which is a multifaceted bundle of space capabilities that includes refueling, repairing and upgrading space systems, all using robotics and automation in space.  

“On the demand side, I’m often asked, ‘Is there a demand for ISAM?’ I’ve been out building this business for over 15 years now for in-orbit servicing—and in particular maneuver life extension," said Anderson. “My perception talking with these customers over all that time is there is ample demand from our customers for these types of services. The issue is there’s very limited supply.”

This episode’s guests assert that demand for these services must eventually match up with the functional—some even flight-proven—capabilities that exist today if the sector is to sustain its maturation, and they explore how adoption and testing interest can further advance the technology to unlock ISAM’s full economic potential.  

“I do think we need a nationally owned test asset on orbit for ISAM missions...not just for technology maturation; it's also to remove a lot of the barriers to entry,” Clark said. “The reason I’m recommending this is, right now, the cost to—not just get to orbit, but to demonstrate these technologies—is a barrier to entry.”

Richardson, COSMIC’s executive director, agreed with the value of testing opportunities. “Continuing to invest in both technology maturation so that the type of missions that we can do expand into the future, as well as investing in on-orbit demonstration—to provide heritage, to show that these are as safe, reliable and effective as the operational users need them to be—those are both areas where investment from the government side is needed.”