A Space Warehouse Concept and Ecosystem to Energize European OSAM (STARFAB)

为欧洲 OSAM 注入活力的太空仓库概念和生态系统 (STARFAB)

• 批准号: 10092765
• 金额: $ 20.12万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF YORK
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: EU-Funded
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2024 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10092765
• 关键词: Space; Warehouse; Concept; Ecosystem; Energize

Implementing sustainable commercial activities in Earth orbit requires not only the key technologies necessary to offer the targeted services (OOS / ISAM) but also the means to effectively ensure the (re)supply of the associated facilities. Storage and handling of goods and resources in orbit, in support of OOS or ISAM, have received limited attention in the perspectives and roadmaps of the major future space ecosystem and economy players. STARFAB aims to explore a novel concept of an automated orbital Warehouse Unit (WU) within the context of both OOS and ISAM (also known as OSAM) commercial perspectives. It seeks to address a critical gap in the future space ecosystem, serving as an enabler for sustainable OSAM business models. The STARFAB project will develop a Phase A equivalent concept and demonstrator of an orbital Warehouse Unit (WU), drawing inspiration from the state-of-the-art automated warehousing practices on Earth, while considering the challenging environmental conditions encountered in space, such as microgravity, vacuum, extreme temperatures, and radiation. STARFAB's objective is to advance the necessary technologies for handling goods in space (including modular and custom-shaped components, raw materials for manufacturing, fuel, water, and more), using robotics and automation. This will encompass storage elements with varying levels of protection, the Items Handling Solution (IHS), featuring custom automation tools for operations within the warehouse structure, and the Item Transfer System (ITS), designed as a robotic manipulator to provide flexible external item transfer within the WU. The STARFAB concept will also include provisions for robotic inspection and minor maintenance tasks, primarily for STARFAB's own integrity but possibly also as a service for spacecraft docking or berthing with STARFAB. At the end, STARFAB will produce a roadmap outlining the path forward for technology maturation, model philosophy, market opportunities, and subsequent exploitation measures

在地球轨道开展可持续商业活动不仅需要提供目标服务（OOS / ISAM）所必需的关键技术，而且需要有效确保相关设施（再）供应的手段。在未来主要空间生态系统和经济参与者的观点和路线图中，为支持OOS或ISAM而在轨道上储存和处理货物和资源受到的关注有限。STARFAB旨在探索一种新的概念，即在OOS和ISAM（也称为OSAM）商业前景的背景下，建立一个自动轨道仓库单元（WU）。它旨在解决未来太空生态系统中的一个关键缺口，作为可持续OSAM商业模式的推动者。STARFAB项目将开发轨道仓库单元（WU）的A阶段等效概念和演示器，从地球上最先进的自动化仓储实践中汲取灵感，同时考虑太空中遇到的具有挑战性的环境条件，如微重力，真空，极端温度和辐射。STARFAB的目标是利用机器人技术和自动化技术，推进在太空中处理货物的必要技术（包括模块化和定制形状的组件、制造原材料、燃料、水等）。这将包括具有不同保护级别的存储元件，项目处理解决方案（IHS），具有用于仓库结构内操作的自定义自动化工具，以及项目转移系统（ITS），设计为机器人机械手，以在WU内提供灵活的外部项目转移。STARFAB概念还将包括机器人检查和小型维护任务的规定，主要是为了STARFAB自身的完整性，但也可能作为航天器与STARFAB对接或停泊的服务。最后，STARFAB将制定一个路线图，概述技术成熟、模型理念、市场机会和后续开发措施的前进道路。