Episode 127: How Stuff Works: Servicing & Assembling in Space

Why do we want to service satellites rather than deorbit them? What do we and could we assemble and manufacture in space? What technologies exist and what are the biggest challenges to expanding a viable in-space servicing assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) economy? In this episode Colleen Stover hosts Aerospace experts Dr. Shannon Zirbel (Vehicle Engineering Department) and Brianna Andrus (Human Exploration & Space Flight) to talk about how stuff works in the world of ISAM.  

Available by video or podcast.

This episode is part of a Center for Space Policy series on ISAM (in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing). This series will cover a range of foundational topics regarding the current and future development efforts for an in-space economy based on ISAM technologies and missions.  

This is part 2 in the series.  Topics in the series include:

• International standards-making
• How Stuff Works
• Extending capabilities with robotics
• Building US national collaboration
• International law and partnerships
• Space Access, Mobility & Logistics (SAML)