On-orbit servicing: A new value proposition for satellite design and operation

The use of humans to service satellites designed for servicing has been adequately demonstrated on the Hubble Space Telescope and International Space Station. Currently, robotic on-orbit servicing technology is maturing with risk reduction programs such as Orbital Express. Robotic servicing appears to be technically feasible and provides a set of capabilities which range from satellite inspection to physical upgrade of components. However, given the current design and operation paradigms of satellite architectures, it appears that on-orbit servicing will not be heavily used, and, as a result, is not likely to be economically viable. To achieve the vision of on-orbit servicing, the development of a new value proposition for satellite architectures is necessary. This new value proposition is oriented around rapid response to technological or market change and design of satellites with less redundancy.