Scaling ISAM from Vision to Reality
Time: 15:05-16:15
Room: G3, NEST Congress and Exhibition Centre
Format: Workshop
In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) is emerging as a foundational capability for a sustainable and scalable space economy. It encompasses spacecraft life extension, active debris removal, in-orbit assembly and manufacturing. It is the infrastructure required for continued safe and secure access to space.
As launch costs decrease and orbital congestion increases, the ability to maintain, upgrade, assemble and manufacture assets in orbit is becoming economically and strategically important. Governments and commercial actors are investing in ISAM to support more resilient architectures, responsive operations and long-term exploration.
However, barriers remain, including technical maturity, standardised interfaces, viable business models, regulation, liability and market demand. Policy developments across the United States, Europe, UK, Japan, amongst others, are beginning to shape the frameworks and incentives required for deployment.
This Special Session will explore how ISAM can move from vision and individual demonstrations towards routine, scalable services. It will bring together technical, commercial, policy and international perspectives to examine the conditions required to build a sustainable orbital economy.
