Orbital Express Launches Tonight

airshowfan writes "When a geosynchronous satellite is launched into space, no human ever gets to touch it again. This means that, other than for minor software issues, there is no way to fix it if it breaks, so it has to work perfectly, almost autonomously, for 20 years non-stop. There is also no way to refuel it once it's out of thruster fuel, the reason why it can't last more than 20 years even if it gets to that mark working very well, with batteries and solar cells still going, which is often the case. If only there were a robotic spacecraft in geostationary orbit that could change broken satellite components and refuel those older satellites, then satellites would be a lot less risky and would last a lot longer. Does this robotic spacecraft mechanic sound like science fiction? It launches tonight."

Comments

Orbital Express Launches Tonight

[Original Replica]

where did they find the hot cyclops to pilot it?

pun intended.

[User 956]

Does this robotic spacecraft mechanic sound like science fiction?

From science fiction? I suppose I say if they are not, someone will say they Are Too.

Re:pun intended.

[@madeus]

See, three posts in and already people are making with the Star Wars jokes.

Re:pun intended.

[LordEd]

Maybe if the moderators stopped rewarding posters for old, weathered jokes, others would be forced to try new jokes. It is because of this type of lame humor that we go without seeing something truly original.

You have been warned.

Breakdown

[ishamael69]

But, what happens when the "robotic spacecraft mechanic" breaks down?

Re:Breakdown

[Sciros]

Duuh that's what Green Lantern rings are for.

Re:Breakdown

[eli pabst]

Duh, that's what the robotic spacecraft mechanic mechanic is for. It launches next year.

Re:There is no way to fix it if it breaks?

[fruity_pebbles]

Someone must have missed all those Hubble missions.

Someone must have missed that Hubble is not in geosynchronous orbit.

Re:Who will refuel it?

[Goaway]

Oh man, they must have totally forgotten about that! Good thing you caught it in time, there's still a chance to stop the launch!

Re:There is no way to fix it if it breaks?

[Timesprout]

A mere technicality.

That doesn't sound like science fiction at all...

[physicsboy500]

..."R2, get out on the wing and fix that satellite"

*end sarcasm*

Re:There is no way to fix it if it breaks?

[Deadstick]

Roughly a 22,000 mile technicality.

rj

Re:who supplies parts to it?

[MichaelSmith]

where does it get it's spares from when they run out

Satellites from competing companies?

Just wait...

[Bwana Geek]

If they can fix orbiting satellites easily now, we're at most 5 years away from "Pimp my Geosynchronously Orbiting Ride."

Re:I can't believe this guy

[roystgnr]

A) Build the satellite correctly the first time around

Good plan. If you just don't make any mistakes in the design or construction of every satellite you launch, you'll never have to fix any of them. Also, all the satellites should be manned by magic elves.

I caught that flight once....

[CFD339]

....that Delta V flight.....changing planes in Atlanta was a bitch, they kept changing gates faster and faster until I couldn't keep up!

Re:Woot

[porl]

Sometimes run-on sentences are not as bad as some people think, although there are definitely times when they would be correct in saying that run-on sentences are 'grotesque' or 'ambiguous' (these are, of course, both subjective terms, and should be treated as such), but these thoughts are not the only thoughts that can be had of run-on sentences, and you should not assume that everyone else believes that run-on sentences are grotesque and ambiguous, because other people have feelings too and you shouldn't assume that your opinion is more important than theirs, because they might think otherwise, and that is how arguments start.

Re:who supplies parts to it?

[symbolset]

The lowest bidder.

duh.