A Tradespace Approach to Quantifying On-Orbit Servicing Value for Space Observatories

The shift toward On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) fundamentally redefines space systems acquisition, yet designers have limited tools to justify the requisite mass and cost penalties. Building upon a recently developed framework for quantifying system changeability, this research extends the methodology to the specific requirements of space-based observatories operating in complex orbits beyond Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). By integrating Multi-Attribute Tradespace Exploration (MATE) and Epoch-Era Analysis (EEA), the study evaluates thousands of architectural alternatives across 14 orbital regimes, ranging from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to heliocentric asteroid inspection trajectories. The framework utilizes a unified Multi-Attribute Utility (MAU) metric to assess the purchased option value of OOS under stochastic lifecycle uncertainty, including hardware failures and resource depletion. The findings demonstrate that the value of OOS is an emergent property rather than a universal constant. Research shows that environmental requirements, stakeholder preferences, and exogenous contextual factors independently and collectively drive the realized value of a servicing architecture. The simulation also identifies solutions where robust servicing architectures provide the highest resilient yield across varying mission durations and where absolute maximum performance may be brittle under contextual changes. This research provides a rigorous data-driven model to justify the transition of high-value space assets toward a sustainable, changeable, and resilient future.