A fundamental shift is underway in military space operations, with experts indicating that future orbital strategies will increasingly resemble the logistics of a modern air force. This new approach, discussed at the MilSat Symposium, emphasizes in-orbit servicing, refueling, and maintenance, moving away from the traditional model of launching satellites and leaving them unsupported for their entire lifespan.
Industry leaders and former defense officials are advocating for a dynamic space environment where assets can be repaired, upgraded, and refueled directly in orbit. This change is seen as essential for maintaining operational advantage and ensuring the resilience of critical national security infrastructure in an increasingly contested domain.
Key Takeaways
- Future military space operations are expected to adopt logistics models similar to the air domain, including in-orbit refueling and maintenance.
- Companies like SpaceLogistics are already demonstrating commercial satellite life extension, with plans to launch advanced robotic service vehicles by 2026.
- A strategic mix of high-cost, serviceable satellites and low-cost, disposable spacecraft is emerging to provide flexibility in contested environments.
- The shift towards in-space logistics is considered critical for the future protection and support of military assets in Earth orbit and beyond.
A New Paradigm for Space Operations
The concept of space as a static domain where satellites are launched and forgotten is quickly becoming obsolete. According to John Rood, CEO of Momentus and a former U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, the evolution of space operations is drawing strong parallels with the air domain.
“The way the space domain is evolving is increasingly looking like the air domain,” Rood stated at the MilSat Symposium in Mountain View, California. He predicted that activities common in air warfare will soon have orbital equivalents. “You’re going to see the equivalent of air-to-air refueling, reconnaissance and inspection.”
This new model mirrors the U.S. Air Force's strategy, which relies on a diverse fleet of aircraft, from highly advanced fighter jets to inexpensive drones. This is supported by a global logistics network that enables in-flight refueling and cargo delivery, extending the reach and endurance of its assets.
Why This Shift is Happening Now
The operational landscape is expanding beyond traditional orbits. “The domain of operations is increasingly shifting to Earth orbit but also higher altitudes because there are organizations around the world that are looking at how to exploit those advantages,” Rood explained. This expansion necessitates a more sustainable and flexible approach to managing space assets.
The Critical Role of In-Orbit Maintenance
For decades, space has been the one domain where maintenance and support were non-existent after launch. Once a satellite ran out of fuel or a component failed, it became space debris. SpaceLogistics, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, is at the forefront of changing this.
Joe Anderson, the company's Vice President, emphasized the urgency of this transition. “Logistics is absolutely critical to our future protection in space,” he said. “If you look at other domains, land, sea and air, support and maintenance of our assets is fundamental. Space has been the one domain where all our money is spent on the asset, and there’s been essentially zero money spent on support and maintenance.”
The commercial sector has been the first to adopt these services. SpaceLogistics was hired by Intelsat to extend the operational life of two of its geostationary communications satellites, proving the viability of the concept.
“Support and maintenance of our assets is fundamental. Space has been the one domain where... there’s been essentially zero money spent on support and maintenance.”
The company is now developing more advanced capabilities. Its multi-armed Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) is scheduled for launch in early 2026 and is designed to perform complex in-orbit tasks, including repairs, upgrades, and relocation of satellites.
A Spectrum of Capabilities for Modern Warfare
The new logistics model primarily targets high-value assets, particularly geostationary satellites that can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Extending the life of these “exquisite” systems provides a significant return on investment. However, the future space fleet will not consist solely of these high-end platforms.
A parallel strategy involves the deployment of less expensive, often disposable, spacecraft for missions in low-Earth orbit (LEO). These satellites are designed for shorter lifespans of a few years before being replaced.
High-Cost vs. Low-Cost Assets
- Geostationary Satellites: These are high-value, long-term assets costing hundreds of millions. In-orbit servicing and life extension are economically viable.
- Low-Earth Orbit Satellites: Often part of large constellations, these are cheaper and designed for shorter life cycles, making replacement a more practical option than servicing.
Max Holliday, CEO of asset-tracking startup EarthTraq Corp., highlighted the need for this dual approach. “When you think about equipping the warfighter, you have to know what you can provide on that spectrum from exquisite to low-cost capabilities,” he noted.
Holliday’s company, EarthTraq, is developing inexpensive satellites to provide alternative positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services that can supplement GPS, particularly in contested or denied environments. The operational concept for these satellites is simplicity.
“We want to be able to toss up the spacecraft and they do their job. No ground-based commissioning and handling necessary,” Holliday said. This approach ensures rapid deployment and resilience, complementing the longevity of more sophisticated, serviceable assets.