Orbital Express Satellites Successfully Separate, Remate

Over the years folks have suggested that it would be good to have a
space tug that could work in orbit to save satellites or do other jobs
in space.

Looks like we have the beginnings of some progress in at least a
servicing test between two satellites.
- LRK -

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-- Orbital Express Satellites Successfully Separate, Remate
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.nl.html?pid=22409
-- Boeing Orbital Express Conducts First Autonomous Spacecraft-to-Spacecraft
Fluid and
Component Transfer
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.nl.html?pid=22408

"The two Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Orbital Express
spacecraft,
launched March 8 in a mated configuration, yesterday successfully separated for
the first time. ..
In its first on-orbit demonstration 300 miles above the Earth, Boeing's Orbital
Express system
autonomously transferred propellant fuel and a battery from one spacecraft to another, marking
industry firsts for the revolutionary system."

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Not an all purpose, positronic brain controlled robot tug, but a start.

Thanks for looking up with me.

Larry Kellogg

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update

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http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.nl.html?pid=22408*
Boeing Orbital Express Conducts First Autonomous
Spacecraft-to-Spacecraft Fluid and Component Transfer*

*PRESS RELEASE*
*Date Released:* Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Source: Boeing <http://www.boeing.com/>

ST. LOUIS, April 17, 2007 -- In its first on-orbit demonstration 300
miles above the Earth, Boeing's [NYSE: BA] Orbital Express system
autonomously transferred propellant fuel and a battery from one
spacecraft to another, marking industry firsts for the revolutionary system.

Snip
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http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0704/03orbitalexpress/
*Robotic satellite servicer rehearsal underway in orbit*
*BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW*
Posted: April 3, 2007

The concept of dispatching low-cost spacecraft to repair and refuel more
expensive troubled satellites took a step closer to reality Sunday when
two first-of-a-kind orbiting testbeds began operations to validate
autonomous in-space servicing techniques.

The two craft are part of the U.S. government's $300 million Orbital
Express program, which is sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency, the Pentagon's primary research and development arm.

The Autonomous Space Transfer and Robotic Orbiter, or ASTRO, spacecraft
serves as the active component in the mission, while the smaller NextSat
plays both the role of a supply depot and of a client satellite to be
serviced.

Snip
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http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=537


       April 8th, 2007


     Satellites mating via robotic arm
     <http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=537>

Posted by Roland Piquepaille @ 10:18 am

The launch of the Orbital Express mission, with its two satellites ASTRO
and NextSat, the first one servicing the other, was widely covered a
month ago. But what is happening in space now? In "Robotic satellite
servicer rehearsal underway in orbit
<http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0704/03orbitalexpress/>,"
/Spaceflight Now/ reports about the progress done. A week ago, the two
satellites were able to link to each other to operate the first transfer
of hydrazine fuel from ASTRO's propellant tanks into NextSat. This
weekend, ASTRO's ten-foot-long robotic arm is going to be used to move
objects to NextSat. But what does it mean for international satellite
operators when they need help with their space birds? Will they use a
system designed for U.S.'s DARPA? We'll see.

Before going further, below is an image showing how the robotic arm on
ASTRO can transfer objects called Orbital Replacement Units, or ORUs, to
another satellite � NextSat in this case (Credit: Boeing).

Snip
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK

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