Symposium Sessions
Rapid Research Expected to Bring Change to Orbit
Written by: Tom Roeder
Artificial intelligence, rapid prototyping, and lightning-fast test programs in orbit will dominate the landscape as the Space Force looks to boost its research, development and testing budget to an unprecedented $40 billion proposed for 2027, panelists told an audience at the 41st Space Symposium on Thursday.
Tahllee Baynard, vice president of the Lockheed Martin’s Ignite research arm, said his firm has changed how it looks at development programs by asking: “How do we get this technology out of the lab?” The big government investment in space comes as venture capital pours into commercial space markets and brings a larger customer base, Baynard said.
The stampede to develop new space technologies has caused L3 Harris to find ways to accelerate engineering work using tools including artificial intelligence. “We just don’t have enough engineers, so getting those engineers to move faster gets products to the warfighter quickly,” Baynard said.
Prodding industry along are military officers including Lt. Col. Caitlin Diffley, director of Space Force innovation and deputy portfolio director for the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit. The colonel said she is watching the clock because rapid evolution brought new weapons, including drone swarms, in the Middle East and Ukraine. “We are looking to take technology as quickly as possible directly to the warfighter.”
Not every technology test will deliver desired results, said Kiruthika Devaraj, vice president of avionics and spacecraft technology at Planet Labs. Recently touted ideas include data centers in space. Problems including cooling systems and electrical demands still have to be solved. It may never pay off, but trying is worth the effort, she said.
Devaraj is sure about one thing: New technologies that hit the mark will see booming demand, she said. “The whole space industry is going to face a massive shift with manufacturing like consumer electronics.”
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