NASA and CSA Begin Testing Satellite Refueling On the ISS

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NASA and CSA Begin Testing Satellite Refueling On the ISS

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday January 23, 2013 @01:22PM from the trying-it-out dept.

Zothecula writes "NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) have begun practicing satellite refueling in space on a test bed outside the International Space Station (ISS). In a series of tests that started on January 14 and are scheduled to continue until the 25th, the two space agencies are using the Robotic Refueling Module (RRM) and Canada's Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, or Dextre, robot to carry out simulated refueling operations. The purpose of these tests is to develop refueling methods aimed at extending the life of satellites and reducing the amount of space debris orbiting the Earth."

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dangerous place to practice refueling? by schlachter · 2013-01-23 13:24 · Score: 2, Interesting

Outside the ISS seems like the last place you'd want to practice refueling.

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1. Re:dangerous place to practice refueling? by xs650 · 2013-01-23 13:50 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Outside the ISS is the next to the last place I would like to try it. Inside the ISS is the last place I would try it
2. Re:dangerous place to practice refueling? by FatLittleMonkey · 2013-01-23 19:58 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Outside the ISS seems like the last place you'd want to practice refueling.
  The simulated "fuel" is ethanol. So no one, particularly the Russians, are complaining.
  
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big deal by PopeRatzo · 2013-01-23 13:59 · Score: 5, Funny

Let me know when I can refuel my Mazda without pulling off the road.
That would be so badass, if there were like these rolling tankers, with the special hose and fittings so you could just drive up next to one, right, like the fighter planes do, and then refuel and just keep rolling.
I'd never stop, except to pee and get more cans of pringles and 2 litre bottles of Coke. Hell, if I had enough empty pringle cans and 2 litre bottles of Coke, I wouldn't have to even stop to pee! And if you lived on pringles and coke you wouldn't have to do anything BUT pee, so you'd have that going for you.
Damn, I love the future...

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1. Re:big deal by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-23 14:02 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  You can do it today.
  But I suggest a catheter instead. Either that or get an RV with cruise control.
2. Re:big deal by CoolGopher · 2013-01-23 14:33 · Score: 2
  
  Dude, if you're refuelling on the go, surely the tanker could also sport a chute for dropping more pringles and coke through the side window*?
  *) I'd suggest opening the window first though.
Oh thank god... by Jhon · 2013-01-23 14:09 · Score: 4, Funny

CSA is the Canadian Space agency! I thought I took a nap and woke in a Turtledove-esq alternate universe where the south won the civil war and were in space!
My kingdom, my kingdom for some mod points by SuperBanana · 2013-01-23 14:29 · Score: 4, Insightful

I get pretty ambivalent about moderating; I get mod points and half the time they expire or go unused. I'm sincerely pissed I have no mod points right now for you. And not just because some other jackhole moderator modded your +1 funny *down*. Whatever happened to metamoderation? I feel like I haven't seen links in a while for it.

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Re:Why is Exxon-Mobil not involved ? by The+Grim+Reefer · 2013-01-23 14:51 · Score: 2

It's the start of space refueling
Why is Exxon-Mobil not involved ??
Two words: Exxon Valdez
Re:Why is Exxon-Mobil not involved ? by JustOK · 2013-01-23 15:25 · Score: 5, Funny

Oh, that's pretty slick.

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