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Orbital Automation

The use of autonomous robots, AI, and self-replicating systems to perform industrial tasks in space without continuous human oversight. This is the extension of the factory floor to zero gravity, where robotic arms assemble satellites, AI-driven drones inspect and repair infrastructure, and automated tugboats manage orbital debris. The goal is to create a self-sustaining, scalable industrial presence in Earth orbit and beyond, turning the vacuum of space into a productive workshop run by machines that build, maintain, and even replicate themselves. It's the prerequisite for a post-scarcity space economy.
Orbital Automation *Example: A fully Orbital Automated factory could involve asteroid-mining drones feeding raw materials to 3D printers that manufacture solar power satellites, which are then positioned by autonomous space tugs—all coordinated by an AI overseer, with humans only on Earth monitoring the profit margins.*
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 3, 2026
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