The changing landscape of outer space

Today, approximately 12,000 satellites orbit Earth. By 2030, estimates show numbers above 60,000. Today, we service spacecraft when absolutely necessary. By 2030’s, in-space services will be routine; refueling, repair, relocation, assembly, and manufacturing. Advances are underway to realizing this future, enabling a sustainable version will require photonics technologies.

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Published
2025-03-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3051810
Primary Topic
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
Type
article
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article

The changing landscape of outer space

Henry Helvajian
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
article

The changing landscape of outer space

Henry Helvajian
article en

Abstract

Today, approximately 12,000 satellites orbit Earth. By 2030, estimates show numbers above 60,000. Today, we service spacecraft when absolutely necessary. By 2030’s, in-space services will be routine; refueling, repair, relocation, assembly, and manufacturing. Advances are underway to realizing this future, enabling a sustainable version will require photonics technologies.

The Aerospace Corporation (US)
Sustainable cities and communities
Openalex Percentile: Top 96%
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
DOISourceOpenAlex
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The changing landscape of outer space — Henry Helvajian · (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS