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Subject: NASA launched robotic mechanic (assassin?) for satellites
reefdiver    3/12/2007 2:58:38 PM
http://space.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11344&feedId=space_rss20 space.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11344&feedId=space_rss20 So this new "mechanic" satellite has a robotic arm to grab another satellite and refuel it? I wonder how long it will take China (and others) to realize it could disable a satellite? I assume it could drain the fuel of another satellite, cut solar panel connections, paint over lens or even solar panels, de-orbit the satellite (attach a small booster - send it to space or earth?), add thruster deflectors to make it uncontrollable, attach a small "limpet" mine or otherwise sabotage it. Hope it works - it would especially be nice if a single robot could carry enough fuel to "refuel" several satellites in one trip.
 
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EW3       3/13/2007 8:26:51 PM
We've actually been messing around with autonomous rendezvous publicly for a while.  Likely doing it quietly for a decade or more.  We seem to be pretty good at by all reports.  All your satellites are ours. ;)
Now if they could launch these satellites via a Pegasus from a DC-10 we could do a rapid deployment in case of war.  Or maybe we have a few of these in silos already instead of ICBMs.
 
 
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reefdiver       3/15/2007 9:43:06 AM

We've actually been messing around with autonomous rendezvous publicly for a while.  Likely doing it quietly for a decade or more.  We seem to be pretty good at by all reports.  All your satellites are ours. ;)

Now if they could launch these satellites via a Pegasus from a DC-10 we could do a rapid deployment in case of war.  Or maybe we have a few of these in silos already instead of ICBMs.

 


Might have been a good use for those MX missiles they dismantled - assuming they could carry some model of these robots... a fleet of robots to refuel or disable satellites. Nice thing about using these robots is that unlike most ASATS (e.g. the Chinese one...) you wouldn't have to create thousands of bits of debris in important space orbits.
 
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gf0012-aust       3/16/2007 9:00:13 AM

We've actually been messing around with autonomous rendezvous publicly for a while.  Likely doing it quietly for a decade or more.  We seem to be pretty good at by all reports.  All your satellites are ours. ;)

Now if they could launch these satellites via a Pegasus from a DC-10 we could do a rapid deployment in case of war.  Or maybe we have a few of these in silos already instead of ICBMs.

 



you could actually launch them via subs .... and turn them into space based tow trucks and pack any stray satellites into an arricing space shuttle.
 
buck rogers look out.....
 
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scuttlebut steve       3/16/2007 5:11:18 PM
this type of thing also makes me wish we would have followed up on the XB-70 by building a few military units.  Pretty big internal weapons bay could be installed (dont need transcontinental range if you are a satelite killer-launcher) and with a 75,000 ft, mach 3 head start you probably wont need too big of a missile to get a small anti-satelite unit into orbit.
 
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Herald1234    That is a good physics observation.   3/16/2007 6:59:03 PM

this type of thing also makes me wish we would have followed up on the XB-70 by building a few military units.  Pretty big internal weapons bay could be installed (dont need transcontinental range if you are a satelite killer-launcher) and with a 75,000 ft, mach 3 head start you probably wont need too big of a missile to get a small anti-satelite unit into orbit.

Herald

 
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