OVERVIEW: 

On-orbit satellite servicing and active debris removal missions require trusted autonomy solutions to operate at scale.

Can we push on-orbit servicing to take on new challenges across:

• navigation
• orbit matching/approach
• rendezvous & proximity operations
• inspection
• grasping/docking/capture
• servicing/detailed inspection
• repositioning/relocation
• release/departure
• on-orbit refueling
• assembly of complex objects
• rescue of damaged or malfunctioning vehicles
• disposal of debris or dead vehicles

For each of these use cases, unforeseen anomalies make automation difficult. So here are the questions we’re asking in this area:

• How can we verify that autonomous servicing procedures are safe to use?
• What are the limits to autonomous servicing operations?
• Can human operators trust autonomous algorithms to safely perform servicing missions?
• How can persons and non-person entities (algorithms on other spacecraft) establish, maintain, and enhance mutual trust?