In-Space Manufacturing and Resource Utilization

Overview of In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) in space exploration and an analysis of Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) systems. The ISRU report, by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group, details the need for technology development, test facilities, and regolith simulants to prepare for human missions to the Moon and Mars, focusing on capabilities like resource assessment, propellant production, and in-situ construction. Concurrently, the NASA report on SBSP assesses the viability and cost competitiveness of two reference designs against terrestrial alternatives for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Both sources highlight the critical role of international collaboration, private-sector involvement, and advancements in areas like In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) for the success and economic feasibility of these ambitious space activities, with the UAE specifically introducing regulations to attract commercial space investment.