Brian Roberts

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Brian Roberts is a space robotics researcher whose work centers on the development and advancement of on-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (OSAM) technologies. Based at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Roberts has made significant contributions to extending the operational life of geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites — high-value assets critical to national defense, communications, scientific research, and weather monitoring. His 2013 paper on robotic servicing technology development, which has garnered 9 citations, addressed the pressing challenge of satellite longevity by exploring how robotic refueling and maintenance systems could preserve costly orbital infrastructure that would otherwise be decommissioned prematurely. Building on this foundation, his 2020 work introduced a hybrid evaluation strategy for assessing OSAM technologies within NASA's Exploration and In-Space Services (ExIS) Project Division, reflecting the field's evolution toward more integrated frameworks for reducing mission cost, schedule, and risk. Roberts' research represents a forward-looking vision for space sustainability, helping lay the groundwork for a future in which robotic systems routinely service and assemble next-generation space infrastructure rather than discarding it.