The iSSI (intelligent Space System Interface) Modular Coupling Supporting Modular Architectures and ISAM Development Across the Board

摘要

From February until December 2022 the iSSI (intelligent Space System Interface) Modular Coupling Kit has been successfully demonstrated and tested on iSEEP aboard the KIBO external platform of the International Space Station ISS in the course of the US Mission iSSI-FQE (Flight Qualification Experiment) with the objective to verify the iSSI potential for a broad range of ISAM use cases. The mission has been funded by DIU and carried out by iBOSS US partner Skycorp Incorporated, in collaboration with iBOSS and SpaceBD, NASA, ISSNL, and others. The upswing of innovative and commercial NewSpace ventures and general space industry trends suggest a move toward higher lot sizes of systems, subsystems and components, thus, series production. At large, these developments and concepts will benefit from cooperative design and plug-and-play (PnP) principles, which in turn are centered around standardized interfaces per se - as well as modularity as enabling system philosophy. With On-Orbit Assembly (OOA), On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) including refurbishing and re-fueling, On-Orbit Manufacturing (OOM), Active Debris Removal (ADR) and In-Space Recycling (ISR) or other supporting services. Space missions and business span over manifold themes beyond Earth orbits and across the solar system, involving robotics, habitats, manufacturing, resource exploitation and more. Large space structures, logistics and warehousing will become common space infrastructure elements. In this context especially modular concepts and standardization of space infrastructure elements have been investigated for decades and are now gradually becoming a reality as the CubeSat revolution has shown in a first step. Standard interfaces are considered instrumental enablers for new dimensions of flexibility and entirely new space systems, operations and business. New standards are intended to provide the foundation for a new commercial repertoire of robust space-based capabilities and a future in-space economy. Besides Safety, cost and flexibility will become key to allow for adjustments and repurposing, staged approaches, etc. and economy of scale effects as routine operations suggest. And NewSpace will drive this with new space approaches. The (DARPA-initiated and meanwhile) independent international industry consortium CONFERS aims to benefit the entire on-orbit servicing industry by building common understanding between developers, operators, customers, investors, insurers, and government policymakers while protecting commercial participants’ financial and strategic interests. The standards would be broad enough to allow individual companies to pursue their own implementations of these standards to suit their individual businesses, while assuring that the implementations adhere to best practices for operational safety. This paper provides insights to the iSSI-FQE and lessons learned for ISAM and selected applications. Moreover, it elaborates on the potential associated with this fully modular coupling kit iSSI by iBOSS, yet the most advanced and mature multi-functional and multi-purpose potential future space system interface standard. Core is the patented intelligent space system interface iSSI, the fastest (coupling), the most compact (dimensions) and the lightest (mass) solution of its kind and industry series-manufactured solution to date. The iSSI technology, its specialties and specs will be presented, followed by selected applications and use cases and associated benefits. Also, innovative and modular space systems in the making and with the iSSI connector baselined are being presented. In particular, the STARcraft by Skycorp (Spacebuilt) and the Port by Arkisys. Finally, enhancing capabilities and effects regarding flexibility, design, architecture and operations will be sketched, and possibly related developments involving the iSSI in Europe and Asia. Hardware flown in space will be passed around the audience.