// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Accretion
The process by which matter gathers together to form a larger body, like how planets form from dust and gas in a protoplanetary disk.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Accretion is the gravitational accumulation of matter, such as dust, gas, and planetesimals, into a larger celestial body, a fundamental process in the formation of stars, planets, and black holes within protoplanetary disks.
BACKGROUND
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy. It is the largest telescope in space, and is equipped with high-resolution and high-sensitivity instruments, allowing it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble Space Telescope. This enables investigations across many fields of astronomy and cosmology, such as observation of the first stars and the formation of the first galaxies, and detailed atmospheric characterization of potentially habitable exoplanets.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Accumulation
- aggregation
- coalescence
- growth
USAGE NOTE
Accretion disks are common features around young stars and black holes, indicating ongoing mass transfer.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Accretion.
Manages and operates space telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope, which directly observes astrophysical accretion processes in star and planet formation. JPL also develops robotic systems for sample collection from celestial bodies, a form of resource accretion.
Operates space observatories such as XMM-Newton and the future Athena mission, dedicated to studying high-energy phenomena driven by accretion onto compact objects like black holes and neutron stars.
A leader in in-space manufacturing, pioneering additive manufacturing (3D printing) in microgravity. Their technology builds objects and structures layer-by-layer, a direct application of engineered accretion.
Develops technology for on-orbit services, including active space debris removal. Their missions involve rendezvousing with and capturing defunct satellites, a form of controlled accretion to clean up orbital environments.
Focused on removing space debris, this company is developing a chaser satellite designed to capture and de-orbit specific pieces of debris, effectively accreting the target object for safe disposal.
Develops technologies for asteroid mining and in-space resource utilization. Their work focuses on capturing and processing asteroid material, representing a core technology for in-situ resource accretion.
Designs advanced robotic systems for space exploration, specializing in drilling, excavation, and sample collection. Their tools are foundational for the accretion of geological resources from planets, moons, and asteroids.
Utilizes large-scale 3D metal printing, an accretion-based process, to manufacture its launch vehicles. The company's technology is a key demonstrator for future in-space manufacturing and off-world construction.