NASA released the 2026 edition of its In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) State of Play document on October 29, 2026. The reference details capabilities across 11 functional areas.
Document Scope and Growth
Published since 2021, the 2026 ISAM State of Play edition has expanded to 368 pages. Dale Arney, senior team lead for the ISAM Technology Portfolio at NASA Langley, stated that the field has expanded more than linearly.
The document covers 11 functional areas, ranging from robotic manipulation to refueling and structural assembly. It also includes developer profiles and facilities documentation.
Strict Hardware Criteria
The State of Play team enforces strict entry criteria, requiring hardware to physically exist as ground prototypes or in-flight demonstrations. Concepts submitted solely as PowerPoint presentations are excluded until later reviews.
Contributions to the document come from NASA centers including Ames, Glenn, Marshall, Kennedy, and Johnson, alongside international developers meeting the hardware criteria.
Key facts and where they come from
- The 2026 edition of the ISAM State of Play document spans 368 pages.
the 2026 edition has grown to 368 pages
- The publication documents capabilities across 11 functional areas.
documenting current ISAM capabilities across 11 functional areas
- Included hardware must physically exist as ground prototypes or in-flight demonstrations.
hardware must physically exist, either as ground prototypes or in-flight demonstrations.