HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — U.S. Air Force Space Command is exploring the possibility of developing “self-healing satellites,” in which a spacecraft could “shed” a nonfunctioning part “in a command sense,” according to a command official.
After shedding the faulty part, a self-healing satellite would “reroute the capability within the spacecraft, before the human ever gets involved, so that the spacecraft can continue to stay functional,” said Merri Sanchez, the command’s chief scientist. 
Self-healing was among a host of potential capabilities Sanchez highlighted during an Aug. 18 panel discussion at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium here.
“I’m looking for solutions that have to be cross-cutting, revolutionary, breakthrough, gamechanging,” she said.
The command is also exploring whether it can develop a communications system that does not rely on the electromagnetic spectrum and whether it can do manufacturing in orbit so it doesn’t have to launch completed systems.
It is looking at disaggregating satellites, miniaturizing sensors, incorporating artificial intelligence in the space/cyberspace domain, and making ground systems more versatile so each satellite constellation does not need a unique ground system.
The command is grappling with technical challenges to advancing space and cyberspace superiority and plans to host a summit on the topic this month. The summit will be held at the MITRE facility in Colorado Springs, Colo., and take place Aug. 23 for industry and academia and Aug. 24 for government.