Growbotics Space

Company - Growbotics Space

Founded
Country
2022
UK
Funding
$0.03M+
Website
https://www.growbotics.space/
Social
Growbotics Space

Product/Service

Classification
In-Space Transportation
Category
On-Orbit Servicing
Reusable Satellite
Space Robotics
Fields
In-Space Satellite Servicing
On-Orbit Servicing
Reusable
Status
Early stage
First launch
Not announced

Growbotics Space launched at the end of last year and now has two people working in the business, but it has hugely ambitious plans moving forward.

Portia added: “We want to build an in orbit circular economy. Currently, satellites are single use but now the technology exists to dock with them, like a roadside recovery vehicle, we need to design them differently enabling them to be repaired rather than disposed of.

“This means their life can be extended by maintaining and upgrading them instead of launching new satellites that burn up in the atmosphere when we don’t know what damage that is causing.”

Growbotics Space wants to expand its workforce by hiring a mechanical engineer this year, growing the team to about seven people by the end of 2024.

LOOP Mission

LOOP: Preparing the foundations of circular on-orbit economy through a commercial refurbishment mission of a spacecraft in GEO
This proposal outlines the LOOP mission, led by Growbotics, Thales Alenia Space, and 3Keel to develop a comprehensive strategy for refurbishing satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and advancing circular economy principles in a commercially viable way. The team's vision focuses on establishing the necessary infrastructure to support a circular on-orbit economy, with a particular emphasis on refurbishable GEO satellite platforms.

By leveraging their collective expertise, the team will conduct a mission study to develop engineering concepts tailored to meet the commercial and circularization requirements of satellites in GEO. This study will encompass the design of satellites optimized for refurbishment, identification of valuable servicing processes, conceptualization of new satellite architectures, and development of circular design principles for space.

Key components of the proposed mission include the design of satellite subsystems that allow for seamless upgrades, such as robotic tools, standardized interfaces, and modular architectures. Additionally, the team will envision the infrastructure requirements for implementing refurbishment services in GEO, including considerations for servicing frequency, transportation, and supply chain management. Through this initiative, the team aims to demonstrate the commercial viability of refurbishment on satellites specifically designed for circular economy principles. By establishing a framework for circular design and refurbishment in space, this mission represents a crucial first step towards realizing a circular in-orbit economy and unlocking the full commercial potential of GEO infrastructure.

Status Comment / Notes

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