Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Space Tugboat to Refuel Satellites

Posted by michael on from the regular-or-unleaded dept.

Faeton sent in this article about a proposed space tugboat to refuel aging satellites. Looks like they're just going to bolt on some extra thrusters with a new fuel supply, guidance system, etc.

7 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Darnit by Com2Kid · · Score: 3, Funny

    There goes any more chances for free tacos.

    --
    Need help treating your acne? Come here!
  2. Laugh at the image... by mraymer · · Score: 2, Funny
    The image, or drawing, of the thing has a very major flaw. Judging by the size of the blue planet in the background, I'd say they were about 90,000 KM away from Earth. I think that's a wee bit too far... :P

    I guess I'm just feeling nitpicky today. Other than that, this sounds like a great idea. Then again, I'm usually hyped about any space program. We've got less than 5 billion years or so to find a new home out there... :(

    --

    "To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit." -Stephen Hawking

    1. Re:Laugh at the image... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Not 100,000 KM ?

    2. Re:Laugh at the image... by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

      Maybe its just very big?...

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  3. Refueling by MalleusEBHC · · Score: 3, Funny

    Do you think this company is gonna charge the extra 40 cents per gallon for full-serve? If so, they better at least wash the windows and check the oil in the satellite.

  4. Re:What ever happened to ion drives? by clickety6 · · Score: 4, Funny

    The highest altitude a shuttle has ever achieved, IIRC, is around 490 miles.

    Rubbish. I saw a documentary only last week where a suttle left the Earth's orbit and went thousands of miles out into space to land on an asteroid. They didn't have extra fuel tanks in teh cargo bay eitehr, cos it was full of these neat, large-wheeled, big trucks fitted with drills and machien guns and everything - they could even jump mile wide cnayons. You just ask the leader of the mission, Harry S. Stamper , a rough-neck, Texas oil man and his team of expert oil drillers if it ain't so!

    --
    ----------------------------------- My Other Sig Is Hilarious -----------------------------------
  5. Re:What ever happened to ion drives? by DavidBrown · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have another shuttle sighting. Last week the Space Shuttle flew not one, but two secret BATF missions to an insect-like alien vessel in high earth orbit with no apparent problems, to capture the renegade space captain from the Light Universe, Stanley H. Tweedle.

    These shuttles have capabilities that we don't know about - and they are as easy to drive as your car.

    --
    144l. ph34r my 133t l3g4l 5k1lz!