U.S. companies within the burgeoning in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) sector are actively collaborating to better understand the needs of the military. This is in response to the U.S. Space Force's plans to rely on commercial entities for critical orbital services such as satellite refueling. This initiative is driven by the evolution of military space operations, moving beyond traditional fixed-orbit satellites to more agile spacecraft capable of sustained maneuvering to counteract threats in space.
“When we start to talk about dynamic space operations, the ears of our U.S. Space Command and U.S. Space Force members perk up,” noted Monty Greer, outreach coordinator for the COSMIC consortium at the Aerospace Corp. COSMIC, or Consortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities, is a national coalition dedicated to streamlining the operational, technical, and policy integration of ISAM capabilities being developed by commercial space firms. The consortium encompasses representatives from government, academia, and private industry.
Greer highlighted that terms like “dynamic space operations” and “sustained space maneuver” are now commonplace within the consortium. These military terms describe satellites’ ability to conduct continuous or frequent maneuvering, departing from fixed or predictable orbits. This agility allows for rapid, unpredictable responses to counter adversary threats, employing tactics like evasion and deception.
Military officials emphasize that these capabilities transcend simple life extension through refueling. They enable satellites to survive threats and create challenges for adversaries. Understanding these military needs is crucial for startups and larger corporations aiming to secure the Space Force and U.S. Space Command as clients, as Greer explained: “The first folks who are going to want to do that, we think, are those flying U.S. government satellites.”
Companies such as Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics have already undertaken in-space satellite servicing for commercial clients, and are preparing to deploy a new servicing vehicle in 2026. Rob Hauge, president of SpaceLogistics, stated at the conference: “There’s an opportunity for the government to build on that capability, which right now we’re using for the commercial market.”
Space Force Maj. Gen. Dennis Bythewood, special assistant to the chief of space operations, clarified the military’s aim: to enable “the movement and maneuver of spacecraft in order to gain some level of ability against an adversary.” Greer further elaborated, characterizing sustained space maneuver as a more advanced capability than life extension, enabling satellites to “take action … maybe move to the next place and take more action. That’s sustained by refueling and refitting.”
Unlike traditional satellites with limited repositioning capabilities, satellites with sustained maneuver capabilities can alter their position and orbital path unpredictably, increasing their resilience against adversaries. The sensor and interceptor satellites planned for the Golden Dome missile defense system may necessitate these capabilities, as Greer suggested. “We’ll see how that plays out. But I think sustained space maneuver is much more than life extension” due to its military context, he added.
Bythewood acknowledged the Space Force’s ongoing analysis to refine its needs. “In some cases, the answer is, I’m going to extend a mission that’s largely static or needs a new payload or an upgrade. Other missions are inherently driven by maneuver,” he explained. The next challenge involves defining the “architecture that we need to put in place that will enable” sustained space maneuver.
The Space Systems Command has established a dedicated office focused on space logistics, including in-orbit refueling. Bythewood also mentioned, “we’ve kicked off some concept work that will flow over the course of next year, that looks at what are the military advantages of movement and maneuver.” This work seeks to move beyond general benefits, focusing on specific military advantages, architectural requirements, and implications for future force structure.
Hauge pointed out that achieving sustained maneuver in geostationary orbit will require technological advancements like in-orbit refueling and more efficient propulsion systems, as traditional satellites are constrained by their limited onboard fuel.
A dedicated logistics infrastructure is needed to support refueling and repair for sustained maneuver, particularly in geostationary orbit. With ISAM’s civilian and commercial applications still in their early stages, the industry is counting on the military to become a key customer. The Space Force is funding the development of refueling vehicles and in-orbit refueling experiments and also supports commercial robotic servicing “space tug” spacecraft for in-space repair, component swapping, and satellite repositioning.
A crucial test case for “dynamic space operations” will be the Space Force’s refueling infrastructure for a future constellation of surveillance satellites. The Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) constellation currently faces limitations due to fuel restrictions, impacting its responsiveness. The new RG-XX program will necessitate refueling capabilities. Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, the Space Force’s top acquisition official, emphatically stated: “I mandated that, and was very militant about that, to be blunt.” He plans to select multiple satellite suppliers for RG-XX, ensuring refueling capabilities are integrated.
Purdy further clarified: “I might ask them to bring their own refueler. I absolutely want a refueling capability.” The RG-XX satellites epitomize the concept of sustained maneuver, needing to remain operational for years, making in-space refueling crucial for avoiding lengthy replacement cycles. Purdy emphasized the integration of commercial refueling services as part of the Space Force's strategy and that the RG-XX program will accelerate this adoption. “So that’s a subject of active debate that we’re working on right now.”