Molecular nanotechnology (MNT) offers the prospect for significant increases in various technical performance parameters, such as material strength and density. This performance would enhance the capabilities of many classes of space systems. To begin analysing this effect, a first step is to take previously defined space system architectures, not originally intended to use molecular nanotechnology, and calculate how well those systems would perform when simply using the MNT technical performance parameters. This paper discusses chemical rockets for putting payloads into an Earth orbit, both single-stage and two-stage architectures, synchronous and rotating skyhooks, solar sails and solar electric ion engines, and large, inhabited space colonies. In all cases, MNT offers the possibility of significant system improvements.

Molecular nanotechnology is the future capability to design and build systems to atomic precisions. This paper motivates the desire of molecular nanotechnology for space exploration with a review of potential benefits, and reviews relevant progress to date for molecular nanotechnology. It provides a framework of challenges that need to be resolved before molecular nanotechnology can be applied to space systems, with discussion on addressing those challenges. The primary focus is in the area of developing tools for automated design of molecular components, using molecular connector components as an example, and in developing tools for generating reaction pathways to fabricate molecular components that can integrate with tools for developing molecular components. The secondary focus is issues for the molecular fabrication system, including integration with the design of end product space systems. Nomenclature δ = material density σ = material strength ∆V = change in velocity

This paper extends traditional production/distribution system analysis to address raw material, factories, and markets located beyond Earth. It explains the eventual advantages of such operations and discusses likely sites in the solar system. It furnishes a typology for production/distribution systems, assessing the fit of each type to space operations. It briefly reviews the physics of orbits. It develops transportation and inventory cost functions for the simplest case of Hohmann trajectories, and for transportation between circular orbits of similar radii using higher-energy trajectories. These cost functions are used to derive a model of production/distribution system cost, the minimization of which selects an optimal factory location. The paper suggests potential extensions to this work, and concludes with ideas for location research on the novel reaches of extraterrestrial space.

This paper addresses an approach to developing a comprehensive representation model for system architectures. The paper uses the Hatley‐Pirbhai architecture model as the point of departure for developing a system architecture representation model, and discusses extensions to the Hatley‐Pirbhai model to make it more comprehensive and to enhance its usability. The paper also discusses activities being undertaken by the NCOSE System Architecture Working Group (SAWG) in the area of system architecture representation.

Molecular nanotechnology (MNT) offers the prospect for significant increases in various technical performance parameters, such as material strength and density. This performance would enhance the capabilities of many classes of space systems. To begin analysing this effect, a first step is to take previously defined space system architectures, not originally intended to use molecular nanotechnology, and calculate how well those systems would perform when simply using the MNT technical performance parameters. This paper discusses chemical rockets for putting payloads into an Earth orbit, both single-stage and two-stage architectures, synchronous and rotating skyhooks, solar sails and solar electric ion engines, and large, inhabited space colonies. In all cases, MNT offers the possibility of significant system improvements.