Speaker
Description
Geostationary orbit (GEO) hosts high‑value spacecraft that provide essential commercial and institutional services, yet many missions are terminated while payload capability remains available. In numerous cases, end of mission is driven by depleted station‑keeping margins, operational constraints, or increasing end‑of‑life risk rather than by payload degradation. This disconnect between remaining functional capability and achievable operational lifetime leads to premature disposal and replacement, with implications for both sustainability and cost.
RISE is a D‑Orbit mission aimed at enabling life extension of GEO spacecraft through a dedicated in‑orbit servicing capability. The mission is designed to restore operational margin and defer retirement decisions by introducing a servicer optimized for proximity operations in the GEO environment. RISE follows a service‑oriented approach that emphasizes compatibility with existing GEO spacecraft, operational robustness, and a pathway toward repeatable service delivery.
The mission concept is shaped by GEO‑specific challenges, including limited natural relative motion, navigation observability constraints, long operational timelines, and stringent safety requirements for rendezvous and proximity operations. System architecture and operations are therefore driven by conservative proximity strategies, fault‑tolerant guidance, navigation and control, and clearly defined contingency behaviors. Particular attention is given to proximity safety, fail‑safe configurations, and predictable system response under off‑nominal conditions, reflecting the high value and long operational lifetimes of resident space objects in GEO.
RISE integrates spacecraft design, mission planning, and ground operations into a coherent servicing framework. The operational concept supports structured approach phases, controlled proximity regimes, and service execution designed to minimize risk to both the client spacecraft and the surrounding orbital environment. Architectural choices prioritize repeatability and operational predictability, enabling a transition from individual missions toward a more standardized servicing model.
From a sustainability perspective, life extension through servicing contributes to reducing the rate of spacecraft disposal and replacement, limiting the introduction of new objects into GEO, and supporting responsible long‑term management of the geostationary environment. RISE represents a practical step toward integrating in‑orbit servicing into GEO operations while aligning commercial asset management with clean space objectives.