Paper 13354-602
Paper 13354-602
The changing landscape of outer space (Hot Topic) (Plenary Presentation)
27 January 2025 • 5:15 PM - 5:30 PM PST | Moscone South, Room 207/215 (Level 2)
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.
Presenter
The Aerospace Corp. (United States)
Dr. Henry Helvajian is a Technical Fellow/Principal Scientist with The Aerospace Corporation. He is recognized for miniaturizing space systems and in laser material interaction processes. His investigations produced the world’s first <1 kg mass satellite, now called CubeSat or Nanosatellite vehicles. His exploration of laser 3D patterning in glass-ceramics for glass-MEMS is used in bio-instruments. He has investigated laser fabrication, manufacturing of nanosatellites, space architectures (HIVE), molecular mobility by surface acoustic waves, and process diagnostics for additive manufacturing. He has mentored post-doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students and has edited five books on microengineering space systems, the last an SPIE publication. He is involved in a US national effort to bring In Space Assembly and Manufacturing technologies to fruition. Dr. Helvajian was co-founder of LAMOM and current Co-Chair of Laser 3D Manufacturing. He is a Fellow of the SPIE.