The advancement of space robots has cleared the door for new capabilities for in-space maintenance, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM). These capabilities present considerable business prospects while also promising to improve the efficiency and robustness of the orbital infrastructure. It will create an entirely new market and has the capacity to establish a new space ecology.

The initiative has two separate goals: First, do a market analysis of in-space services, in-space assembly and manufacturing, and associated domains, and create two reference scenarios that will be further studied and used to construct an end-to-end demo scenario. Second, the demonstration scenario aims to mature building blocks and robotic elements produced in Europe in recent years, and provide an open-source method for ongoing development. The development of a European ISAM capability and the definition of the future space ecosystem will have a substantial impact on Europe. By developing and deploying these new skills, Europe can preserve its global competitiveness, create new employment, and promote economic growth through increasing investment in the space sector. Furthermore, the creation of a sustainable space ecosystem will benefit the environment by reducing waste and pollution in space, resulting in a more sustainable and cleaner space environment.

Overall, the project’s influence on Europe is varied and extensive, encompassing economic growth, job creation, technical innovation, and environmental stewardship. By developing a European ISAM capacity and defining the future space environment, Europe can position itself as a global space industry leader while also paving the road for a more sustainable and prosperous future.