Orbital Servicing and Space Infrastructure Innovation: New Opportunities for a Sustainable Space Economy

Edward B. Roberts

Orbital Servicing and Space Infrastructure Innovation: New Opportunities for a Sustainable Space Economy

Author(s)	Edward B. Roberts
Country	United States
Abstract	The rapid expansion of commercial and governmental space activities is creating an increasingly complex orbital environment in which satellites, launch vehicles, scientific platforms, and other space assets must operate for longer periods while facing constraints related to cost, reliability, debris, limited propulsion resources, and challenging maintenance conditions. Orbital servicing has emerged as an important technological and economic pathway for addressing these challenges. It encompasses a broad range of activities, including satellite inspection, life extension, refuelling, repair, relocation, component replacement, debris removal, and end-of-life management. This paper examines the evolution of orbital servicing and its potential contribution to space infrastructure innovation and a sustainable space economy. A conceptual qualitative methodology is employed to analyse technological developments, infrastructure requirements, economic opportunities, environmental implications, and governance challenges. The paper proposes an integrated orbital servicing ecosystem connecting servicing spacecraft, reusable platforms, refuelling infrastructure, robotic systems, space situational awareness, and orbital traffic management. The analysis suggests that orbital servicing could extend satellite lifetimes, reduce the need for premature replacement, enable flexible orbital architectures, support debris mitigation, and create new commercial markets. However, technical challenges involving autonomous rendezvous, docking, robotic manipulation, propulsion, spacecraft compatibility, and fault tolerance remain substantial. Regulatory and governance issues concerning ownership, liability, licensing, security, and responsible proximity operations are equally important. The study concludes that orbital servicing should be viewed not merely as a satellite-maintenance capability but as a foundational component of future space infrastructure. A mature servicing ecosystem could transform space from a predominantly launch-and-replace model towards a more circular, adaptive, and service-oriented economic model.
Keywords	Orbital Servicing, Space Infrastructure, Satellite Servicing, Space Economy, Space Sustainability, In-Orbit Manufacturing, Active Debris Removal, Space Robotics, Satellite Life Extension, Orbital Logistics.
Field	Engineering
Published In	Volume 6, Issue 2, March-April 2024
Published On	2024-04-08

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American Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation

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Orbital Servicing and Space Infrastructure Innovation: New Opportunities for a Sustainable Space Economy

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