NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology

09/29/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/30/2026 03:22

Building an In-Space Circular Economy – Seminar Series Report

Published
September 29, 2026

Author(s)

Andrew Iams, Kelsea Schumacher, Jon Beam, Carolyn Pace, Dianne Poster

Abstract

Traditional space activities have followed a linear, single-mission model in which spacecraft are designed, launched, operated, and ultimately disposed of through atmospheric reentry or relocation to graveyard orbits. As the commercial space sector grows, this "make-use-dispose" paradigm is increasingly challenged by the economic and operational realities of long-duration space activity. This report captures key themes from the 2025 Building an In-Space Circular Economy seminar series, convened by the Department of Commerce Office of Space Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The seminars examined the technical, regulatory, and economic requirements needed to support a transition toward circular space operations. Major themes include the need for streamlined regulations alongside government procurement strategies that establish dependable demand, clarification of salvage rights and ownership transfer pathways, and the development of standards to support servicing, refueling, reuse, recycling, and data exchange. Additionally, the report also highlights the importance of orbital infrastructure, including servicing hubs, modular platforms, recycling architectures, logistics networks, and energy systems, as well as the critical role of materials science and manufacturing innovation. Key concepts such as design for circularity, materials passports, feedstock processing, and in-space manufacturing are identified as enabling tools for extending the value of space assets. The multidisciplinary nature of the participants, presentations, and discussions highlighted that building an in-space circular economy will require coordination among policy, finance, technology, and standards organizations.
Citation
Special Publication (NIST SP) - 1500-39
Report Number
1500-39
Pub Type
NIST Pubs

Keywords

Circular space economy, design for circularity, in-situ resource utilization, in-space manufacturing, in-space recycling, in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing, interoperability, interoperability standards, modularity, orbital infrastructure, space policy, space resource utilization, space sustainability, standards.

Citation

Iams, A. , Schumacher, K. , Beam, J. , Pace, C. and Poster, D. (2026), Building an In-Space Circular Economy - Seminar Series Report, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1500-39, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=962800 (Accessed September 30, 2026)
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Issues

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NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology published this content on September 29, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 30, 2026 at 09:23 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]