Phase 1 – Parallel shipyard and factory platforms constructed in Earth orbit (or later cislunar space) while mineral profiling probes are still gathering data.
Mass-produce the entire mining fleet, transport vessels, processing units, initial habitat modules, and support craft in orbit. This eliminates the vast majority of Earth-to-orbit launch costs and allows rapid, scalable production once ASI-level manufacturing is available.
Construction begins in parallel with the probe reconnaissance phase. The orbital manufacturing platforms must be fully operational and have produced the complete mining fleet by the time the probe data confirms the asteroid is economically viable. The operator authorises activation. Fabrication pauses at the probe-viability review. A completed fleet is held for retargeting. It does not depart until the operator authorises departure.
Requirement: Orbital manufacturing platforms may be constructed in Earth orbit in parallel with Phase 0. The operator authorises activation. Fabrication pauses at the probe-viability review. A completed fleet is held for retargeting if the target is not viable.
Rationale: Eliminates launch-window pressure and removes the vast majority of Earth-to-orbit mass penalty for the entire early infrastructure build-out.
Open Questions: None at v0.7
Requirement: Every orbital manufacturing platform, construction bay, and assembly line shall be built around standardised UMP core modules with full mechanical, power, data, fluid, and thermal hardpoints.
Rationale: Ensures complete interoperability between manufacturing assets and all future IPLS vessels and bases.
Requirement: Orbital platforms shall support robotic assembly under operator veto. ASI analysis is advisory. The assembly tier and the list of critical steps are unset.
Rationale: Minimises human EVA exposure during the high-risk early construction phase and allows 24/7 production.
Requirement: Platforms shall include multiple independent construction bays operating in parallel, each capable of simultaneous production of different asset classes (mining vessels, habitat modules, support craft).
Rationale: Enables rapid fleet scaling and reduces single-point failure risk during the critical Phase 1 window.
Requirement: All welding, additive manufacturing, and assembly processes shall be optimised for zero/micro-gravity environments with active vibration damping and particulate containment.
Rationale: Prevents defects that would be unacceptable in space-rated hardware.
Requirement: Platforms shall be designed to accept and process the first ISRU-derived feedstock from mining fleets as soon as it becomes available, enabling progressive reduction in Earth-sourced materials.
Rationale: Accelerates the transition to fully self-sustaining orbital industry.
Requirement: All orbital manufacturing platforms shall incorporate N+3 redundancy at critical systems and be designed for a minimum 200-year service life with graceful degradation.
Rationale: Ensures continuous production capability even during partial system failures or long-term technology evolution.
Requirement: Every critical manufacturing function (power isolation, assembly halt, safety interlocks) shall expose physical manual overrides and digital operator veto independent of automation.
Rationale: Preserves absolute human/post-biological command authority during the high-risk construction phase.
Requirement: The operator authorises fleet departure after acceptance testing and sign-off. The platform does not authorise. A completed fleet is held for retargeting if the target is not viable.
Rationale: Ensures every vessel is fully mission-ready and aligned with the latest reconnaissance data before leaving Earth orbit, eliminating downstream delays and safety risks.