Abstract: The In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) landscape is rapidly evolving with frequent technological innovation and development. These new technologies enable complex space-based manufacturing capabilities and new mission areas in the defense and civilian domains.
This paper expands on previous work by presenting a framework for an orbital satellite factory designed to enhance manufacturing capabilities for satellite servicing and part production. Key manufacturing technologies are highlighted as motivation for foundational experiments being conducted as part of the Orbital Manufacturing Initiative.
Next, the paper delves into the design of the orbital factory, detailing its various manufacturing layers and the logistics depot responsible for production, assembly, and interactions with client vehicles.
Also included is The Consortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities (COSMIC), a nationwide coalition working to invigorate a domestic ISAM capability and was established in 2023 as a result of the National ISAM Implementation Plan.
COSMIC created the COSMIC Capstone Challenge, which prompts student teams to create the conceptual design for an ISAM payload. This paper describes covers the 2024-25 competition and provides a status check for the current academic year, which has been expanded into four tracks.
Bio: Dr. Jacob Rome is a Senior Project Leader in the Structures Department at The Aerospace Corporation. Dr. Rome now leads several research efforts that broadly aim to improve industry capabilities in the area of Digital Engineering (DE), Additive Manufacturing (ISAM), and In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM).
Jacob earned his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering (ME) from the University of Michigan in 1994, his M.S. in ME from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in 1997 and his Ph.D. in ME from UCSD in 2002.
That same year, Dr. Rome began working at Aerospace.