Advanced Constellation Augmentation through On-Orbit Logistics

Arkisys is establishing a thriving services-based Space Port Infrastructure that drives a new on-orbit economy and provides novel solutions for capability, speed and resilience to its customers.   Our “Ports” are operational in any Earth or other orbit and have capabilities to aggregate, reconfigure, and reconstitute services to existing or create new satellites on their platforms over time. Just like nautical Ports on Earth take advantage of supply chains and available real estate to expand maritime services for DoD and commercial elements, our Space Ports have built in modularity to build and grow scale, operational “plug and play” abilities for customers and vendors alike, operate sustainably over long duration with onboard repair and augmentation of each Port Module, and enable safe ubiquitous rendezvous and proximity operations to support customer and resupply arrivals and departures.  These functions include the ability to dock/berth existing satellites, augment and add-on new payloads or propulsion modules, and build fully 3-axis stabilized craft from independent subsystems.  This Direct to Phase II proposal will a) evaluate the value proposition to SDA long term constellation goals of one or more on-orbit logistics platforms, b) investigate methods for SDA to set a possible standard for future constellation satellites using connectable orbit interfaces, and finally c/d) validate manipulation requirements to add payloads to a satellite via demonstration on our existing 1G testbed using autonomous robotic manipulation through interfaces that represent the Arkisys Port Architecture.  The goal of this effort is to accelerate SDA’s ability to rapidly respond to new missions (payloads or high DV maneuverability modules), instruct future constellation providers how to support on orbit changeout, and show the value proposition that a responsive orbital logistics platform supports current and future SDA goals and needs.