Digital Platform for On-Orbit, Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing Operations

As we enter a new age of heightened activity in space, new digital tools need to be built and implemented to meet demands for volume, speed, and risk reduction. General Raymond, Chief of the Space Force, recognized the situation when he stated in May 2021, “And when you think about our strategic competitors and the threats that we currently face, becoming a digital service is much more than an opportunity. It’s a necessity.” In terms of volume, SpaceNews reports that roughly 17,000 satellites will launch to non-geostationary orbit between 2021 and 2030, compared with around 3,800 spacecraft across all orbits over the previous decade. Other orbits are also seeing similarly large increases according to recent FCC approvals and requests. Currently, there are 6,542 satellites on-orbit, out of which 3,372 satellites are active and 3,170 satellites are inactive as of January 1, 2021. In the past, digital tools were seldom used to drive complex space operations with the exception of Microsoft Word, Excel, and OneNote. Quite simply, it wasn’t necessary as the volume was low enough to not require faster digital tools. However, these are poor solutions for addressing the situation over the upcoming decade. In the immediate future, space debris removal and on-orbit, servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (OSAM) operations require digital tools that have the ability to integrate with multiple command and telemetry platforms, integrations with additional data sources and post-processing tools, and the ability to automate decisions based on this data.