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New Way of Extending Satellite Life Saves Millions
coondoggie writes "A new technique to save aging satellites promises to save millions of dollars by extending the life of communications spacecraft. A process developed by researchers from Purdue University and Lockheed Martin has already saved $60 million for unnamed broadcasters by extending the service life of two communications satellites. In a nutshell the technique works by applying an advanced simulation and a method that equalizes the amount of propellant in satellite fuel tanks so that the satellite consumes all of the fuel before being retired from service. Some aging communications satellites are each equipped with four fuel tanks. If one of the tanks empties before the others, the satellite loses control and should be decommissioned, wasting the remaining fuel in the other tanks."
If there are four propellors with separate tanks, and one empties early, borrow from other tanks so you don't have to throw the whole thing out! What a brilliant idea! I think that's worthy of a patent.
... on a satellite."
"A process for shifting resources from areas with a surplus to those that have run out
Hey -- maybe if I act quickly I can get a patent on "sending a refueling pod"!
(I don't know if this should count as funny, flamebait, or insighful.)
Apology to Ubuntu forum.
They didn't do that.
Well, of course they didn't. That would have infringed on UbuntuDupe's patent.
<Complete your profile by adding a signature!>
ink jet cartridges...
Oh wait... who am I kidding...
I already tried to but apparently I needed 3 other patents to balance it out and now my application is just spinning wildly out of control.
Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
What truth?
There is no dupe
Oh wait... who am I kidding... I just tried it out and your idea works well, but I'm wondering why my pr0n printouts have green nipples!
Well, back to rejecting software patent applications.
Oh, great... so now Martin Marietta is gonna file a DMCA complaint and demand the arrest of...
Good Show in either case!
Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
"It's not a rocket science!"
But this time it really is!
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With all the answers here from "Why not just have one tank?" to "Run a tube between them" to "God, they're so stupid!", I'm surprised that Lockheed Martin didn't just do an Ask Slashdot posting. Baby, Slashdot coulda saved you millions already. Call me.
Bearded Dragon
They should just put guns on the satellite. When the satellite passes overhead any ground-based fuel tanks it can blow them up, and the spaceship fuel tanks will fill up again.
I thought everybody knew that.
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beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
Great, now try to balance the thing. Maybe put it in the middle? I mean, come on, it's not like this is rocket science.
Oh, wait...
How would the guns be reloaded? Firing away from the Earth?
I just read Slashdot for the articles.
Or, even better, you could just run the internet between the fuel tanks! That way, there's not just one, but a SERIES of tubes between them!
Please put some pants on before you post again.
who wants a Satellite flavored life saver, regardless of how long it lasts
1) Your analysis is based on bad assumptions so your result is way off. 2) You're a sick bastard for fucking a horse.
Outside of a nutshell?
Must be a pretty big nutshell to fit a commsat.
Millions of what, satellite overlords?
I was flipping bits on an abacus, newb.