The Necessity Of A National Space Logistics Program
“If you’re not thinking about logistics, you lose.”
~US Navy saying
Space logistics expertise is an essential industry-wide need and growth engine. The concept is so important it was focused upon in the 2020 and 2021 US National Security State of the Space Industrial Base conferences and reports. Yet we have nothing but the barest outline of such a program. You likely know that the order in which things are done is the key to any logistics system. Cold Star Tech’s process improvement mastery stands out when it comes to optimizing the order in which things are done. Disturbingly, however, most companies have never written anything down about how they do what they do. Then, many never ask why they do things the way they do them. The person who made the processes may have departed years ago! This prevalent lack of interest in logistics leads to stagnation, inefficiency and financial losses in all fields. The space industry is no exception to this serious problem.
The Vision Of Commercial Space Logistics
“Jason Kanigan and the Cold Star Technologies team have the interest, focus and expertise to be relied upon in developing your space logistics program. I recommend you speak with them.”
~Dr. Gordon Roesler, President of Robots In Space and past DARPA Program Manager
The leadership in process improvement that Cold Star Tech provides will add value to all space logistics programs. Planning and scheduling, sequencing and integration, the order in which things are done, is critical here. As the space industry grows in complexity, coordination has never been so important. Cold Star Tech is the company to rely upon with the expertise to schedule and support events involving:
- Mission Extension vehicles
- Commercial satellites in GEO
- Commercial space stations
- Gateway
- NASA – OSAM (On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing)
- NOAA – GOES (Geostationary Satellite Server satellites)
- In-space assemblies eg. telescopes
- Fuel depots & refuelling to achieve “Maneuver Without Regret”
- Lunar bases & mining operations
- Inspection devices
- Repair & Refit
- Moving “dumb launch” payloads into desired orbital positions
- Out-of-sequence deliveries.
These are all customers of space logistics who need support. What is it going to be like when we have 100,000 people living and working in space? What will be required? Cold Star Tech is prepared for the future of this industry. The level of coordination is beyond the logistical experience of space companies. You need to know space logistics is being supported by the truly competent and experienced team of Cold Star Tech, which handles problems you didn’t even know could arise.
An Industry Doomed To Operational Failure Without The Right Logistical Support
Without this assurance, you risk the sloppy implementation of a poorly thought-out program that leads to financial losses, missed intercepts, and even fatal accidents. Logistics is far more than simply stockpiling some inventory and shuffling items around to meet the needs of the squeakiest wheel⏤as armies have discovered to their peril.
Past RSGS DARPA Program Manager Dr. Gordon Roesler has pointed out that each of the following will require an analog in space:
- Railroads
- Interstate highway system
- Ocean freight shipping & “The Box” shipping container
- Planners
- Schedulers
- Freight forwarders
- Analysts
- Pricers
- Dispatchers
- Buyers
- Customer service reps
- Forklift drivers
- Maintenance techs
- Repair techs
- Estimators
- Insurers
- Brokers
- Inspectors
- Longshoremen
- Drivers
- Mariners
- Train engineers
- Aircrew
- Warehouse stockers
- Crane operators.
Have you considered which you need in your space logistics program? Which do you plan to automate? EVAs for instance are dangerous and expensive, and are best replaced by robot interactions. Are you ready to plan for these? For other operations, where are you going to get the human capital?
The modern study of coordinated movement of large groups of personnel and materiel goes back well over a century, and we know this field well. Cold Star Tech is a supporter of the Operational Excellence Society, and our founder Jason Kanigan is a member of its Board of Advisors. We can also help you in navigating and complying with EAR and ITAR, especially if you are an American supplier interested in selling to European buyers, or a European buyer wanting to source supply from an American manufacturer. If you want the relief of knowing your space logistics program is correctly in place, adaptable and well supported, let’s speak. Book a time now to discuss your goals and how we can support you in getting there: