Space Exploration Resource Vehicle for in-space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (SERVSAM)

SERVSAM builds on the existing SERV bus architecture, a high-?V, reconfigurable satellite bus with a modular design that enables a wide variety of mission profiles. The vehicle is designed to support In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM), a key capability that includes in-orbit refueling, satellite servicing, and modular payload hosting. SERVSAM will allow for semi-autonomous docking and refueling, an essential capability to prolong the operational lifespan of critical space assets, perform satellite adjustments, and reduce the costs associated with satellite de-orbiting and replacement. The SERVSAM platform includes several key technical enhancements that differentiate it from traditional satellite buses: 1. Hybrid Propulsion System: SERVSAM features a hybrid fuel-propulsion system capable of switching between high-efficiency and high-thrust modalities. This dual-mode capability allows the platform to adapt its maneuvering strategy depending on mission requirements. The system has an available ?V greater than 4 km/s, allowing for high agility and the capability to perform multi-orbit adjustments with minimal fuel consumption. 2. Docking and Refueling: A critical component of SERVSAM’s mission profile is its ability to perform in-orbit refueling of other spacecraft. The Autonomous Capture and Acquisition Robotic-arm (ACQR), which is integrated into the SERVSAM system, provides semi-autonomous capture and docking for refueling operations. This arm enables precise and safe connections to external spacecraft, allowing fuel transfer without manual intervention. SERVSAM is designed to handle up to three different fuel types, ensuring compatibility with a variety of spacecraft propulsion systems. Additionally, fluid transfer systems such as iBOSS iFEX and Orbit Fab RAFTI interfaces provide reliable docking connections to deliver propellant in a bidirectional manner, supporting both pressurant and propellant transfers. 3. Modular Accommodation: SERVSAM can either carry payload modules as an integrated part of its core bus or dock with external payloads post-launch. It provides 400 cubic meters of reconfigurable internal volume, making it highly adaptable for a range of mission types, from experimental testing to operational satellite servicing. Additionally, external ports are available to host smaller payloads using standard docking interfaces, such as the iBOSS connector. 4. Persistent ISAM Platform: SERVSAM’s robust architecture makes it an ideal candidate for long-term operations in space. By using 3D manufacturing techniques, SERVSAM can be customized rapidly for new mission profiles. These additive manufacturing processes dramatically reduce the time and cost associated with the construction of traditional spacecraft, offering weeks for system buildout instead of the months typically required.