NASA Working On Refueling Satellites 116
cylonlover writes "Geostationary satellites cost a fortune and, despite their sophistication, they break down or eventually run out of propellant to keep them oriented. This is unfortunate when the nearest garage is back on Earth, so NASA wants to remedy this with an orbital version of roadside service. The space agency is developing a service robot that can visit ailing satellites and refuel or even repair them on the spot. The refueling program is already at an advanced enough stage that a technology demonstrator called the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) was delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) in July of last year. The RRM was installed on a temporary platform outside the station. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center wants a robot capable of carrying out what it calls the five 'Rs' – refueling, repositioning, remote survey, component replacement or repairing – on any satellite that might require its services."
Re:Headline: NASA WANTS MONEY (Score:5, Insightful)
Quit wasting our tax dollars on this boondoggle when people are dying from lack of healthcare.
[sarcasm warning] Yes, because satellites are never used for saving lives. [end of sarcasm warning]
Re:Talk about Scope Creep (Score:5, Insightful)
You hit on my main concern in your last paragraph -- taxpayers subsidizing the owners of the geosynch satellites. If there is one space activity which private industry has figured out how to make a profit on it's geosynchronous satellites -- if refueling them is a great idea then the owners of the satellites can invest in developing the technology to do it. Let NASA spend its money going to Mars, etc.
Re:Headline: NASA WANTS MONEY (Score:4, Insightful)