UK’s First In-Orbit Servicing & Manufacturing (IOSM) Conference

The inaugural UK IOSM conference, co-hosted by the UK Space Agency and Satellite Applications Catapult, took place on 8-9 May 2024.

Nearly 300 national and international delegates gathered on the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire to discuss the present and future of IOSM within the UK, Europe and beyond.

Day 1 started with welcomes from the CEO of the UK Space Agency, Paul Bate, and COO of the Satellite Applications Catapult, Lucy Edge, followed by plenary sessions on national IOSM capabilities, investments and opportunities, global perspectives and challenges, and end-to-end space sustainability.  There were also SME pitches, exhibitors, and an evening networking reception.

On Day 2 the conference split into three streams, for panel sessions on Technology; Applications; and Regulation, Skills & Investment. Discussions covered diverse topics such as ADR, artificial intelligence and robotics, manufacturing, refuelling and in-orbit servicing, funding innovations, the future workforce, and licensing of IOSM activities.

Several key announcements were made at the conference, including an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for phase 2 of a potential national ADR mission, calls for studies into the opportunities and value of the IOSM market, and gap analysis to produce an IOSM technology roadmap.  The successful bidder for the Atmospheric Ablation study call was also announced.  See below for more information on all these announcements.

Feedback regarding the conference was very positive and plans are already in motion for the second conference in 2025.

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