Infrastructure, mobility, servicing and mission readiness
Orbital Infrastructure & Logistics
Access to orbit is no longer the bottleneck. What determines industrial use of space is the layer above launch: platforms, mobility, servicing, power, data and the logistics that make an orbital activity repeatable.
The ecosystem, in outline
The layer above launch is made of interdependent activities operated by many different organisations. Select a layer to see how SSIP reads the ecosystem.
Conceptual ecosystem visualisation · select a layer
Low Earth orbit
The operating environment where most commercial and research activity concentrates: constrained, congested and increasingly regulated.
What it includes
- Orbital regimes, debris environment and traffic coordination
- Radiation, thermal and contamination constraints
- Licensing, spectrum and national regulatory frameworks
Where SSIP contributes
- Explaining operating constraints to organisations new to orbit
- Convening regulatory and technical expertise around specific cases
This diagram illustrates the international orbital infrastructure ecosystem in conceptual terms. SSIP does not own or operate spacecraft, stations, launch systems, depots, servicing vehicles or reentry systems; its role is connection and orchestration between organisations.
Why this programme exists
Swiss industry has deep capability in precision mechanics, materials, sensing, photonics and reliability engineering, developed for demanding terrestrial environments. Much of it is directly relevant to orbital infrastructure, but rarely reaches the international programmes where that demand sits.
This programme works on that gap: mapping relevant Swiss capability, connecting it to international infrastructure and logistics initiatives, and structuring the collaborations that follow.
Scope of work
- Orbital platforms and hosted payload opportunities for research and industry.
- In-space mobility, servicing and end-of-life considerations.
- Components, subsystems and materials qualification pathways.
- Data, communication and operations as part of mission readiness.
- Consortium building for international infrastructure programmes.
How organisations participate
Companies and research groups engage through capability mapping, targeted introductions, feasibility work and bounded pilot activities. SSIP coordinates the process and remains neutral between participants; technical and commercial decisions stay with the organisations involved.
To discuss participation, contact the SSIP team.