Orbital Factory Concept and Roadmap

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. Finally, 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.