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Design the future of in-space ecosystem
News
STARFAB on the road to its final
demonstration
September, 2026
STARFAB is entering its final stretch. The team is completing the last integration and test activities to prepare the final demonstration of the robotic systems and modular tools. This demonstration will lead up to the project's Final Review, which closes three years of development.
STARFAB at i-SAIRAS 2026
Septemberr, 2026
From design to lab validation: at i-SAIRAS 2026, STARFAB will present its relocatable robotic manipulator and modular toolset for in-orbit servicing and assembly, along with the development and laboratory validation results.
STARFAB invited at IROS 2026
August, 2026
The STARFAB Coordinator from Space Applications Services, is an invited speaker at the IROS 2026 workshop "Developing On-Orbit Platforms for Space Robot Testing" in Pittsburgh. He will share STARFAB's experience and results.
In-space assembly and manufacturing at EASN 2026
August, 2026
Thales Alenia Space will present the reference scenario and operational concept defined for STARFAB's in-space assembly and manufacturing platform at the EASN Conference 2026. This work lays the foundations for future orbital production.
STARFAB Successfull TRR
July, 2026
STARFAB has successfully passed its Test Readiness Review. The final test campaign can now begin, with validation of the robotic systems and modular tools in the SpaceApps laboratory and STARFAB test bench.
Abstract Accepted for IAC-2026
June, 2026
Several STARFAB abstracts have been accepted for the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, October 5–9, 2026. The team will present the robotic space station as a whole, along with its modular robotics activities, covering the design and tests results.
STARFAB at ASTRA 2025
October 7-9, 2025
How can a robotic space station extend in-space operations and services? Space Applications Services answered this question at ASTRA 2025 by presenting the design of the STARFAB flight and laboratory demonstrators.
STARFAB Successful DDR
June, 2025
STARFAB has reached another key milestone by successfully passing its Detailed Design Review. The team presented the final design of the robotic systems and the flight and laboratory demonstrators. With the design now frozen, the project moves on to manufacturing, integration and testing.
STARFAB at TAROS 2025
August 20–22, 2025
The University of York presented the design of STARFAB's modular mobile robot at the 26th TAROS Conference. The robot is dedicated to inspection and maintenance tasks on board the orbital servicing hub.
STARFAB Successful PDR
October, 2024
A new milestone for STARFAB: the project successfully completed its Preliminary Design Review. The consortium presented the preliminary design of the orbital hub, the warehouse unit and its robotic systems. This validates the approach and opens the way to detailed design and demonstrator development.
STARFAB at IAC 2024
October 14–18, 2024
At the 75th International Astronautical Congress in Milan, STARFAB presented its orbital hub concept. and two more specific talks: one on a multi-arm robot for in-space telescope assembly, and one by the University of York on modular spacecraft networking and dynamic reconfiguration.
June, 2024
STARFAB presented its vision for automated in-space warehousing at the 1st International Conference on Space Robotics (iSpaRo '24). The published paper and poster session introduced the ecosystem concept supporting sustainable operation and service missions in orbit.
STARFAB IAC Abstract
accepted
April 24, 2024
We have been pleased to be informed that our STARFAB IAC 2024 abstract about the concept of operations and preliminary design has been accepted for an oral presentation .
STARFAB Successful SRR
April 16, 20
STARFAB successfully passed the System Requirement Review after conducting a scenario and concept of operation analysis as well as defining the system requirement baseline.
STARFAB is in the News
January 23, 2024
STARFAB was showcased in Belgian newspapers, radio and TV news following the interview between the Belgian State Secretary for Economic Recovery and Strategic Investments, Space Applications Services and Sonaca.
STARFAB officially launched
January 1, 2024
STARFAB has officially launched in Brussels with the kick off meeting taking place at Space Applications Services headquarters.
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