Within the past decade an ever-growing number of New Space organizations have emerged that are unencumbered by legacy practices and constraints. By reimagining, creating, and continuously improving SmallSat space technology a new and growing space ecosystem is now in place that is capable of serving a broad stakeholder community of both traditional users and new or nontraditional users. Current commercial practices are expanding with capabilities including technology and business-driven applications that open the door to a broad and vibrant ecosystem offering a wide range of solutions capable of supporting a growing range of stakeholders. In parallel to traditional approaches, space infrastructure related to manufacturing, such as customized spacecraft buses, instruments, and sensors?including high-resolution imaging and radar systems rivaling the performance of traditional systems?are emerging in both growing volume and with constantly improving capability. On the operational
To better support the need for timely, effective manufacturing technology development and transition, the Department of Defense (DoD) has established nine Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs) through its Defense-wide Manufacturing Science and Technology program element within the DoD Manufacturing Technology program. The institutes are considered by DoD to be important facilitators that bring together innovative ecosystems in key technology and market sectors in the United States. DoD MIIs are industry-led public private partnerships, with dual, public and private benefit, providing large commercial market potential while also meeting key U.S. defense industrial needs. The mission of the nine DoD-established institutes addresses both defense and commercial manufacturing needs within specific, defense-relevant technology areas. DoD Engagement with Its Manufacturing Innovation Institutes Phase 2 Study provides strategic guidance on protocols for conducting long term engagement
