OSAM

National Security Council States Need for OSAM Regulatory Framework

For a long time, on-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (OSAM) seemed just out of reach. Now, multiple startups have successfully demonstrated the technology, and many more are developing OSAM capabilities for refueling, repairing, and towing satellites around in orbit. But as this tech becomes more common, industry and policy voices have to consider potential dark sides.

Audrey Schaffer, director of space policy at the National Security Council, affirmed the need for a regulatory framework around OSAM capabilities at a Center for Strategic and International Studies and Secure World Foundation panel on Wednesday, SpaceNews reports.

“With the advent of space surveillance, satellite servicing and satellite inspection, we’re going to see more cooperative and potentially uncooperative close approaches between space objects,” Schaffer said.

Old rules: The Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS), an industry group that aims to protect the viability of on-orbit satellite servicing, keeps a list of recommended guidelines for safe OSAM procedures. Though there’s not yet a legal consensus for how to guarantee the responsible use of satellite servicing technology, these guidelines could serve as a jumping-off point.

The CONFERS guiding principles were most recently updated in Oct. 2021:

  • Consensual operations: Both servicer and servicee should formally agree to the specifics of close approaches through commercial contracts.
  • Compliance with relevant laws and regulations: Any OSAM operations need to obtain any applicable licensing and permissions before performing an on-orbit rendezvous.
  • Responsible operations: OSAM missions should follow “generally accepted engineering practices,” plan for potential consequences, maintain constant communication between the satellite operators, and learn from mistakes and successes.
  • Transparent operations: Operators should keep regulatory agencies and any other relevant groups informed on when and how OSAM missions will occur and maintain a stream of communication throughout servicing.
Related Stories
DebrisOSAM

Slingshot Tracks Centaur Break-Up in HEO

The second stage of a ULA rocket that sent a NOAA weather satellite to orbit in 2018 broke apart dramatically in orbit last week, generating a debris cloud first tracked by Slingshot Aerospace.

MilitaryOSAMStartups

Outpost’s Carryall is Big Enough for Multiple Contracts

Outpost won a $36M in recent contracts from the US military to develop its technology for hypersonic testing, reentry missions, and on orbit cargo storage.

OSAMStartups

Star Catcher Closes $12.25M Seed Round

The startup intends to build a constellation of satellites in LEO that can harness solar power and efficiently send it to other sats in greater concentrations.

OSAMStartupsTechnology

Outpost’s Plan To Put Shipping Containers In Space

The future of manufacturing in space depends on Earth return companies finding a way to return much larger volumes from space—like say, shipping containers.