Satellites Mating Via Robotic Arm

Roland Piquepaille writes "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,' 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? "

wrong metaphor

[lawpoop]

OK, these satellites aren't really mating. Are they exchange some kind of digital DNA or code? Is one going to become pregnant and reproduce?

I'm all for understanding scientific miracles of progress in mythical or reverential terms at *some* level, but this one doesn't really fly with me. I would describe it more as doctoring or healing.

tagged boycottroland

[MustardMan]

Two roland blogspam articles on the front page at the same time... it would be funny if it wasn't a shitcock earning money he doesn't deserve by whoring other peoples' work.

Re:tagged boycottroland

[Anonymous Coward]

it would be funny if it wasn't a shitcock earning money he doesn't deserve by whoring other peoples' work.

Much like Slashdot, eh?

What does it mean? What does THAT mean?

[ScentCone]

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?

I don't know... what does it mean when an Airbus passenger jet needs help with a bad engine? That systems being built by the US to service their own flying hardware should also be set up to fix other countries'/consortiums' hardware? Would something designed by the European space entities/ventures be designed specifically to service both their stuff and everyone else's? Why is this question even being asked in this context? Oh, right... because it's flamebait, and that generates chit-chat, like this.

Why...

[plasmoidia]

Why did the submitter have to phrase the title that way?! This is some really cool stuff. Yet as it is, I think I saw about three posts that did not in some way allude to sex.... *sigh* What are you to expect from the Slashdot crowd?

Automated Rendezvous and Docking is an exciting field right now. Success of the Orbital Express mission is going to be a huge step forward (trying to be optimistic). The linked article looks pretty good. Space.com [space.com] also has a good story on it.