COSMIC Convergence 2024
On May 15-16, 2024, COSMIC convened 170 in-person attendees along with 140 virtual attendees to continue to build momentum toward making ISAM a routine part of space architectures and missions.
On May 15-16, 2024, COSMIC convened 170 in-person attendees along with 140 virtual attendees to continue to build momentum toward making ISAM a routine part of space architectures and missions.
Thank you to everyone who made the COSMIC Kickoff an extraordinary event! We’re delighted to share the highlights and key moments from this groundbreaking gathering that brought together over 500 participants from academia, industry, and government, both in-person and virtually.
The COSMIC Kickoff surpassed our expectations, showcasing the incredible diversity and passion of America’s space community. With participants joining us from across the nation, this event marked the start of something big!
Keynote Speakers
Our speakers each delivered insightful presentations, contributing to the balance of the event:
NASA Deputy Administrator Pamela Melroy discussed her history with In-space Assembly, Servicing, and Maintenance (ISAM) missions as an astronaut and the importance of ISAM beyond low Earth orbit, emphasizing its role in future lunar and Martian exploration. She stressed the need for advancements in autonomous robotics, manufacturing, and construction. She also outlined the significance of developing infrastructure to support sustained human presence for science and exploration throughout the solar system.
Maj. Gen. John Olson highlighted the Space Force’s dedication to ISAM and its significance in ensuring a secure and sustainable space domain. The speech underscored ISAM’s central role in safeguarding the nation’s interests in space, fostering international collaboration, and building a resilient space infrastructure to support global security and prosperity. He also discussed the Space Force’s theory of success, centered around competitive endurance, and seeking a safe, stable, secure, and sustainable space domain.
Dr. Ezinne Uzo-Okoro emphasized the importance of U.S. preeminence in space, particularly in the realms of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), lunar exploration, and beyond. She highlighted the critical role of ISAM capabilities, framing them as essential tools for our nation’s sustained space operations. The speech also touched upon the evolving space landscape, emphasizing the need for innovation, collaboration, and a strategic role for the United States in global space endeavors.
The agenda and speaker roster are available here: Fall 2023 Speakers
You can revisit these inspiring talks on our YouTube playlist.
Panel Discussions, Breakout Sessions, and Networking
Attendees engaged in dynamic breakout sessions, fostering meaningful discussions and collaborative activities. The event provided valuable networking opportunities, created new connections across the COSMIC community, and laid the foundation for the vital work that is to come.
Membership is Now Open!
And some of the most exciting news to come out of the Kickoff: COSMIC is now accepting membership applications! Organizations interested in shaping America’s future of sustainable space operations are encouraged to apply. Best of all, there is no cost to join!
Questions? Contact us at membership@cosmicspace.org.
Once again, a heartfelt thank you to all participants, speakers, and contributors. Your dedication and enthusiasm have set the stage for COSMIC’s exciting journey ahead. We encourage you to stay engaged, share your COSMIC experience with your networks, and connect with us on LinkedIn for real-time updates and announcements.
The journey has just begun, and we’re thrilled to have you with us.
November 7-8th, 2023
The COSMIC Kickoff is the first biannual COSMIC general membership meeting, which brings together a diverse forum of users, customers, developers, and researchers to accelerate the widespread adoption of ISAM capabilities as an integrated segment of the space enterprise architecture. The kickoff will introduce COSMIC as an entity, align members with…
October 11-12th, 2023
The 6th Annual Global Satellite Servicing Forum (GSSF), hosted by the Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS), is the space sector’s premier in-space infrastructure and operations event. This year’s event will be held Wednesday, October 11 – Thursday, October 12, 2023 at the Hilton Towers, Arlington, VA.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 3, 2023 — The Consortium for Space Mobility and in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) Capabilities (COSMIC) today announced a formal kickoff meeting scheduled for Nov. 7-8, 2023, at the University of Maryland.
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate formulated and funds COSMIC, which brings together leading experts from government, industry, research and academia to collaborate on pioneering advancements in space mobility and ISAM. This groundbreaking collaboration between leading researchers, engineers and other experts in the U.S. ISAM community is managed by The Aerospace Corporation.
“At this pivotal moment in space transformation, ISAM represents transformative potential for space mission planning and design. COSMIC responds to national strategy directives by forming a nationwide alliance of stakeholders to advance research and development of ISAM technologies,” said Trudy Kortes, director of technology demonstrations in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate.
Kickoff participants can anticipate engaging discussions, knowledge-sharing sessions and innovative opportunities for collaboration through COSMIC that will help shape a sustainable future in space.
“The potential applications of ISAM are vast, spanning in-orbit servicing of satellites, assembly of large space structures and in-space manufacturing of critical components,” said Greg Richardson, COSMIC executive director. “These revolutionary techniques will enable cost-effective maintenance and upgrades of existing assets in space and pave the way for ambitious missions beyond Earth.”
The COSMIC kickoff event will be hybrid, with in-person or remote participation welcome. Registration will open Thursday, Sept. 7. For more information, and to register for the event, visit cosmicspace.org.
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About COSMIC
The Consortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities (COSMIC) is a nationwide coalition that will invigorate a domestic in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) capability. Launched by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate in April 2023, COSMIC aligns with the ISAM National Strategy and National ISAM Implementation Plan by providing opportunities for collaboration among government, industry and academia to pursue common goals in ISAM capability development. COSMIC is managed by The Aerospace Corporation, a national nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center on behalf of the U.S. space enterprise.
Media Contacts
Parker Wishik, Strategic Communications
The Aerospace Corporation
Mobile: 708-391-7806 | E-mail: parker.wishik@aero.org
August 3rd, 2023
The Consortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilties would like to announce our first official event!
We will be holding a two-hour engagement session to share more about COSMIC and solicit feedback regarding consortium operations and outcomes needed to meet the U.S. ISAM community’s needs…
May 15-18th, 2023
Attend our presentation as part of the State of the Space Industrial Base Workshop (SSIB) in Albuquerque, New Mexico to learn more about COSMIC. The presentation will be held on May 17th at 9:00AM MDT…
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Apr. 19, 2023 — The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) has been selected by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) to lead a whole-of-nation effort to advance U.S. capabilities for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) in the national interest.
Jim Reuter, associate administrator for STMD, announced the launch of this new national consortium at the 38th Space Symposium today in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The newly formed Consortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities (COSMIC) will help facilitate coordination across government, industry, research and academia to develop ISAM capabilities.
Read the full press release: NASA Selects The Aerospace Corporation To Lead National ISAM Consortium