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How finance and insurance companies can help lift an emerging industry off the ground.

Kickstarting In-Orbit Repair

Current economics and future regulations point to serviceability and repairability of spacecrafts playing a key role in the space economy. But who will pay for the pathfinder repair missions needed to prove the technology?

A Financial Case for Satellite Inspection and Repair

This whitepaper, co-authored by ClearSpace, Satellite Applications Catapult, and Relm Insurance, explains why on-orbit anomalies are so expensive to resolve today, and how in-orbit inspection and repair can reduce uncertainty, limit losses, and support scalable financing structures.

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Kickstarting In-Orbit Repair

Written by:

Andrew Bonwick (Relm Insurance), Olivia Cotton (Relm Insurance), Romain Buchs (ClearSpace), Anja Frey (Satellite Applications Catapult).

What the paper covers

 

  • The anomaly resolution problem: why current remote diagnostics can be inconclusive and expensive.
  • What changes with inspection and repair: how physical visibility reduces uncertainty and enables recovery options.
  • Financing models: how third-party capital, staged approaches, and outcome-aligned contracts can fund high-cost missions.
  • Scaling: moving beyond bespoke deals through standardization and in-orbit infrastructure.

Benefits

 

  • Reduced uncertainty: better information supports more informed operational and underwriting decisions.
  • Lower loss severity: recoverability may create alternatives to immediate write-offs and limit losses.
  • Improved continuity: preserving service avoids the downtime and replacement cycle of a lost satellite.
  • More sustainable operations: fewer replacement launches and less orbital mass turnover.

The Current Model: High Uncertainty

Telemetry shows symptoms, not root causes.

  • 01

    Telemetry Only

    Limited visibility into physical condition.

  • 02

    High Uncertainty

    Root cause unknown.

  • 03

    Binary Outcomes

    Total and partial loss claims.

  • 04

    Large Losses, Long Outages

    Inefficient capital allocation.

The Future Model: Reduced Uncertainty

Inspection reveals. Repair recovers. Value is preserved.

  • 01

    In-Orbit Inspection

    Physical visibility and root cause identification.

  • 02

    Targeted Repair

    Restores function or extends lifetime.

  • 03

    Lower Loss Severity

    Avoids total loss and reduces downtime.

  • 04

    Better Economic Outcomes

    Better insurance pricing, lower volatility, sustainable risk models.

Who this whitepaper is for

Satellite operators, space insurers and underwriters, investors and specialty finance groups, in-orbit servicing providers, and policymakers who shape standards and incentives.

What Can Be Achieved?

IN-ORBIT INSPECTION

Improves visibility into root cause and asset condition.

 

IN-ORBIT REPAIR

May reduce losses by extending operational lifespan and preserving asset value.

Why It Matters?

REDUCED UNCERTAINTY

Better information supports more informed operational and underwriting decisions.

 

LOWER LOSS SEVERITY

Recoverability may create alternatives to immediate write-offs and limit losses.

Who Will Pay For It?

SHARED INCENTIVES

Operators, insurers, and investors can share in the upside when recovery is successful.

 

PRIVATE CAPITAL

Private capital already backs high-risk recoveries for a share of the outcome, such as in marine salvage or litigation funding.