Side Talks are 15 minute presentations and/or discussions designed to spotlight the most original thinking and technical innovation across our industry, located in the Lovelace Room (near entrance).

PRESENTED BY: Aule Space

Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) are evolving from a niche orbital maneuver to becoming a cornerstone of both commercial sustainability and national security. On the civil side, it enables life extension of aging high-value assets, active debris removal, and finer data collection for SSA and STM. The same technology stack also underwrites space superiority, enabling close-proximity inspection and counterspace capabilities. This talk discusses the current technological state of RPO programs across major space powers, and how it’ll reshape the way assets are built, operated, and defended in orbit. The talk will also dive deep into RPO powered emerging business models, unprecedented operational flexibility, and servicing oriented mission architectures.