[amsat-bb] Re: Can we get them to fix AO-40 first then?

[Auke de Jong, VE6PWN]

Could the robots manage a closeup or high quality photo of the physical 
condition of Oscar 40, just to stir the pot?  I must guess that a great many 
interested minds would be highly motivated and inspired by such a report! 
Imagine how amazing it would be to know such things as the spin and 
orientation, the presence of extra holes, missing/dammaged parts or panels, 
etc!

I would doubt that there's anything a robot could to to effect any sort of 
repair to this, but at least we could decide if it's worth leaving for 
possible later recovery efforts , or trashing to improve the safety of 
future craft.  Either way, adventure awaits!

There is obviously a common interest in these observations, not only from 
our ranks, but also for commercial and government  interests, whose own 
orbital gear(might nearly) crosse-paths with ours, and is therfore justified 
for investigaion.

Auke

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David - KG4ZLB" <kg4zlb at googlemail.com>
To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2009 10:30 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Can we get them to fix AO-40 first then?


>
>  Rogue satellites to be cleared from Earth's orbit by German robots
>
> German-built robots are to be sent into Earth's orbit to repair 'dead
> satellites' or push them into outer space, according to a report in
> Sunday's Guardian newspaper.
>
> Robots that rescue failing satellites and push 'dead' ones into outer
> space should be ready in four years, it has emerged. Experts described
> the development by German scientists as a crucial step in preventing a
> disaster in the Earth's crowded orbit.
>
> Last year it was reported that critical levels of debris circling the
> Earth were threatening astronauts' lives and the future of the
> multibillion-pound satellite communications industry. But senior figures
> at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) told the /Observer/ they have been
> given the go-ahead to tackle a crisis that will come to a head in the
> next five to 10 years as more orbiting objects run out of fuel.
>
> Their robots will dock with failing satellites to carry out repairs or
> push them into "graveyard orbits", freeing vital space in geostationary
> orbit. This is the narrow band 22,000 miles above the Earth in which
> orbiting objects appear fixed at the same point. More than 200 dead
> satellites litter this orbit. Within 10 years that number could increase
> fivefold, the International Association for the Advancement of Space
> Safety has warned.
>
> You can read the full article / 'Rogue satellites to be cleared from
> Earth's orbit by German robots'/ at:
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/oct/11/space-robots-clear-rogue-satellites
>
> -- 
> David
> KG4ZLB
> www.kg4zlb.com
>
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