US-based space services company Arkisys is set to highlight its expanding role in commercial on-orbit operations when it hosts a specialist panel session at the AIAA SciTech Forum 2026 in Orlando, Florida.
The company, which provides long-duration on-orbit platforms for post-launch applications, has announced it will lead a discussion titled “Astrobee Commercial Return to Flight” on 15 January. The session brings together researchers and industry professionals with direct experience of NASA’s Astrobee free-flying robotic platform, reflecting the growing commercial interest in robotic servicing and experimentation in low Earth orbit.
Panel to focus on Astrobee’s transition from research to commercial use
The panel will take place on Thursday, 15 January, from 12:00 to 1:30pm Eastern Standard Time at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, in the Regency Q Ballroom. It forms part of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ annual SciTech Forum, one of the aerospace industry’s largest international conferences.
According to Arkisys, the discussion will examine how Astrobee is evolving from a primarily experimental research tool into a commercially deployable platform capable of supporting long-duration servicing, inspection and technology demonstration missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Industry experts with first-hand Astrobee experience
The session will feature a panel of speakers who are former Astrobee users, offering practical insights drawn from direct operational experience in microgravity.
Panelists include Dr Somrita Banerjee, a machine learning researcher at Apple; Professor Steve Ulrich, director of the Space Robotics Laboratory at Carleton University; and Dr Scott Dorrington, a postdoctoral researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They will be joined by Yashvi Deliwala, Astrobee Mission Manager at Arkisys. The discussion will be moderated by Arkisys Chief Systems Engineer Dr Rahul Rughani.
The speakers are expected to discuss how free-flying robotic platforms are accelerating innovation in space by enabling repeated testing and refinement of technologies in orbit, reducing development timelines and costs.
Growing role of free-flying robotics in post-launch servicing
Arkisys positions Astrobee as a key enabling platform in the rapidly expanding market for post-launch servicing and on-orbit operations. These capabilities are increasingly seen as essential as satellite operators, space agencies and commercial ventures seek to extend asset lifespans and build more sustainable orbital infrastructure.
The panel follows what Arkisys describes as Astrobee’s first successful commercial mission, a milestone that the company says demonstrates the platform’s readiness for broader industrial use.
Arkisys chief executive highlights strategic shift
Speaking ahead of the event, Arkisys chief executive Dave Barnhart said the recent mission marked a turning point for the use of free-flying robotics in space.
“Astrobee’s successful first commercial mission shows that we’ve moved beyond experimentation. We’re now proving how free-flying robotics can support long-duration servicing, open new industrial pathways, and serve as a foundation for the next era of on-orbit operations. This is the right moment to bring the community together to discuss how long-duration free flying robotic platforms are shaping the next generation of on-orbit services.”
Industry analysts note that the commercialisation of robotic platforms such as Astrobee aligns with wider trends in the global space economy, including in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing.
Exclusive mission footage to be unveiled at the forum
In addition to technical discussion, Arkisys has confirmed that attendees will have an exclusive opportunity to view previously unseen footage from the most recent Astrobee mission. The company says this will be the first public screening of imagery from the platform’s official commercial return to flight.
While Arkisys is headquartered in Los Alamitos, California, its work is drawing international attention as governments and private operators worldwide assess the role of robotics in future space stations and orbital infrastructure.
Delegates attending the AIAA SciTech Forum can register for the panel via the Arkisys website. The company expects strong interest from both academic researchers and commercial stakeholders seeking insight into the next phase of on-orbit services.
