CONFERS, the Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations, is an industry-led, independent, non-profit trade association that develops industry-led recommendations for voluntary consensus standards and guides international policies for satellite servicing. It fosters collaboration between industry, academia, and government to create a foundation for commercial space-based capabilities related to on-orbit servicing (OOS), rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), and in-space assembly, servicing, and manufacturing (ISAM). CONFERS engages with organizations like DARPA and NASA to leverage best practices and promote a sustainable, safe, and diverse space economy. Key areas of focus include satellite maintenance, repair, assembly, manufacturing, and inspection, contributing to the development of "rules of the road" for responsible space operations.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
G. Theresa Quitto-Dickerson participates in the CONFERS Circular Space Economy Special Interest Group.
Weeden mentioned CONFERS as an industry group that has developed voluntary standards for satellite servicing.
The Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS) was established with the support of DARPA to create an industry forum for standards and best practices in the emerging satellite servicing field.
Organizations like CONFERS facilitate collaboration among stakeholders on in-orbit servicing issues.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics created a standards group with CONFERS members and other experts to develop the fiducials standard.
NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy helped establish CONFERS when she was deputy director of DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office.
Confers plans to work on satellite servicing in the following year.
Confers will define best practices and develop voluntary consensus-driven standards for rendezvous and proximity operations as well as on-orbit servicing.
Advanced Technology International is the prime contractor for Confers.
Confers activities are currently supported by DARPA, with future costs to be covered by member companies.
In its first year, Confers will focus on rendezvous and proximity operations.