establish satellites is a high-risk proposition — costing as much as $ 10,000 a pound sign to make field and little recourse if a decisive art object malfunction . So , DARPA has devised a scheme to reprocess the $ 300 billion worth of orbiting deadened orbiter into a zombi antenna raiment .
The Phoenix system , as it has been dubbed , consist of a primary Tender / Servicer satellite and multiple small miniskirt - satellites call “ Satlets . ” As the plan goes , after the Tender has hit geosynchronous orbit , the Satlets are launched aboard a commercial-grade communication satellite from which the Tender will pull in them and store them on - board itself .
The Tender will then channelize to the GEO “ memorial park ” orbit and begin pick apart dead satellites , focusing on the antenna which are the large and most expensive bit to get into orbit . unluckily , they ’re not really designed for easy disassembly . As David Barnhart , DARPA program manager , points out
This requires novel remote imagery and robotics applied science and special peter to grip , trim back , and modify complex systems , since existing joints are usually mould or weld . Another challenge is developing raw remote operating procedures to hold two parts together so a third robotic ‘ hand ’ can unite them with a third part , such as a fastener , all in zero gravitation . For a person operating such robotics , the complexity is similar to trying to assemble via remote control multiple Legos at the same clock time while looking through a telescope .
Once the antenna is free the Tender will install a Satlet , which do as a unexampled accountant for the antenna , and guide it into position to make “ communication farms ” of recycled satellites . “ If this syllabus is successful , space rubble becomes blank resource , ” said DARPA Director , Regina E. Dugan , in a press release .
It ’s a magnificent idea , if it ever becomes a realness . The Satlets compact only the most of the essence dominance systems necessary , shun bulky frames and expensive antennas , which should make them a more affordable pick to the current method . Plus , it could help lighten the screening of dead satellites and space junk that ’s orbiting the planet . [ DARPAviaDVICE ]
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