The Emerging Technologies Webinar Series: ISAM
Alice Charlton
What is the Emerging Technologies Webinar series?
The Emerging Technologies webinar series offers unparalleled insights into cutting-edge advancements across the space sector, fostering a deeper understanding of the rapidly evolving space ecosystem and empowering professionals to stay at the forefront of innovation in this pivotal industry. Co-ordinated by the Satellite Applications Catapult and the University of Glasgow, each webinar explores a unique thematic area of the sector’s emerging technologies. The recording of the most recent session (11 April 2025) on In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) can be accessed here.
In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing: setting the scene
Richard Lowe, Chief Technology Officer at the Satellite Applications Catapult, opened by defining ISAM as the suite of capabilities that enable satellites and structures to be refuelled, upgraded, assembled or even manufactured once in orbit. He described how these services transform space from a “one-way ticket” into a sustainable, reusable environment—much as shipping containers revolutionised global trade. Richard highlighted recent UK government commitments to an ISAM strategy and underlined the pivotal role of cross-sector collaboration, from robotics engineers to policy-makers, in driving this paradigm shift. He closed by noting the rapid maturation of key technologies—proximity operations, docking interfaces and on-orbit additive manufacturing—which are now transitioning from laboratory demonstrations to commercial service offerings.
Europe’s cross-cutting ISAM initiative
Martina Meisnar, Lead for Robotics and Automation at the European Space Agency, then introduced ESA’s pan-European ISAM programme. Spanning seven facilities across Europe—from ESTEC in the Netherlands to Harwell in the UK—the initiative brings together life-support specialists, materials scientists and mission-planning experts to address every stage of the ISAM value chain. Martina outlined two flagship demonstrations: (1) a lunar regolith oxygen-extraction pilot that uses a novel electrochemical reactor to separate O₂ for in-space propellant, and (2) a microgravity lithographic printer capable of fabricating precision metal and polymer parts to sub-millimetre tolerance. By coupling these projects with a dedicated robotics testbed, ESA aims to validate end-to-end workflows for future commercial ISAM missions.
On-orbit fuel depots: OrbitFab’s vision
Next, Calypso Kulasegram, Operations Manager for OrbitFab in the UK and Europe, painted a vivid picture of tomorrow’s on-orbit “fuel stations”. She explained how OrbitFab’s Tanker-4 and Cryo-Depot modules can store hydrazine, xenon and even cryogenic methane, offering satellite operators simple “plug-and-play” refuelling via standardised Rapidly Integrated Transfer Interfaces (RITIs). Calypso took us through a typical mission profile—launch, docking, propellant transfer and departure—emphasising safety measures such as autonomous leak detection and pressure-managed transfer lines. She also confirmed that a commercial demonstration flight is slated for Q3 2026, with multiple satellite constellation providers already signed on as prospective clients.
Standards and interoperability: the role of CONFERS
Ronald J. Birk, Board Member of the Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing (CONFERS), then addressed the critical importance of global standards. He outlined CONFERS’ work to publish the ICS Interface Specification v1.0—which defines mechanical, electrical and data-exchange requirements—and the accompanying Safety Assessment Guideline (PAS 516) for proximity operations. Ronald stressed that, without universally accepted protocols and clear liability frameworks, no satellite owner would risk entrusting their asset to a third-party servicer. By growing its membership to over 40 organisations—including agencies, prime contractors and start-ups—CONFERS is laying the groundwork for a truly interoperable, competitive ISAM marketplace.
Additive manufacturing and sustainable operations
Closing the technical session, Gilles Bailet, Principal Engineer in Additive Manufacturing at the UK’s advanced research facility, reviewed recent microgravity 3D-printing experiments flown aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard. His team achieved polymer-composite parts with tensile strengths reaching 90 per cent of terrestrial benchmarks, yet faced challenges in post-process quality assurance due to the lack of standardised in-orbit inspection tools. Gilles also discussed the UK Space Sustainability Guidelines, which mandate that any in-orbit AM process must minimise particulate release and facilitate end-of-life disposal. He concluded by advocating for hybrid manufacturing architectures—where bulk structures are printed in space and finishing processes occur on Earth—to balance risk, cost and sustainability.
Looking ahead
This webinar made it unmistakably clear that ISAM is no longer the realm of science fiction. Public–private partnerships, innovative start-ups and a robust standards ecosystem are converging to turn on-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing into routine operations. From the ability to refuel ageing communications satellites to the prospect of assembling trillion-dollar observatories in situ, the applications are as vast as they are transformative. We encourage you to watch the full recording, download the slide decks and join the conversation on how we can collectively accelerate the adoption of ISAM technologies.
This blog is written by Dr. Reza Akhavan, KE Manager at Satellite Applications Catapult. If you are interested in contributing to upcoming Emerging Technology webinars or have any questions, please contact ke@sa.catapult.org.uk.