Orbiting 'Rest Stops' Could Repair Crumbling Satellites

astroengine writes: Satellites are numerous, vital to many modern activities, and incredibly expensive to build and launch. They're constructed with redundancy and simplicity in mind because if something goes wrong after the satellite reaches orbit, we can't do much to help it. Now, NASA is talking about building an orbital service station that can perform maintenance, repair, and even refueling operations on these satellites. "Is there a way working with humans and robots together to extend the useful life of satellites, by fixing them and by not allowing fuel to spill out, but give it more propellant, close it up and send it on its way?," said Benjamin Reed, deputy director of the Satellite Servicing Program Office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "Yes, We have the technologies to be able to do it."

Comments

im sure routines would get interesting

[nimbius]

Resurs-P No.2 Can we stop at a rest stop
russian space agency you just stopped like 2 days ago....
Resurs-P No.2 yeah but i have to go again...
russian space agency fine Resurs-P No.2 but make it quick you need to be on the other side of the planet soon...
NOAA-4 SATCOM!!! NOAA-16 wont stop touching me.
stcom: NOAA-16 stay on your side of the orbit.
NOAA-16 ARE WE THERE YET I NEED TO STOP
stcom no you orbit the poles you'll be there in another hour or so. just be quiet
NOAA-19 my Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Spectral Radiometer is sore can we stop at a rest stop
stcom damnit NOAA-19 not until you stream the rest of your data.