How I’ve spent the last two years advocating for space robotics

It’s been over two years since I made entries here. To all who were following the exciting field of space robotics, I apologize!

Here are some of the things that have kept me too busy to write:

• Helping Australia build its Space Robotics, Autonomy and AI Control Centre (SpAARC) in Perth
• Advising the US Defense Innovation Unit and helping it to start some new space logistics-focused programs
• Advising a space robotics company how best to use its novel robotics design
• Becoming part of a multi-university space robotics research effort funded by the US Space Force
• Advising a company that is building modules to be emplaced on satellites already in orbit
• Starting to write a book

In October, I attended the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy. Space robotics and logistics were major topics being discussed by academic and corporate researchers from around the world. It is a good time to be in this field!

Then in November, I participated in the Global Satellite Servicing Forum conducted by CONFERS, the consortium that is developing standards for on-orbit servicing. Finally in December, I attended the “virtual convergence” of COSMIC, the NASA-sponsored consortium working to push ISAM forward into actual missions. I’ll report on these in more detail later. And I promise I won’t let another two years go by before adding new thoughts!