DARPA’s Phoenix Program

DARPAs Phoenix Program
Satellites that reach the end of their useful lives are often boosted into a “graveyard” orbit in order to make way for replacements. Now, DARPA has proposed a grave-robbing robot that could stitch together parts from these dead satellites to create new ones, avoiding the huge expense of launching components into space.
DARPA’s Phoenix program aims to re-purpose ground-based robotic systems, such as those used by surgeons to operate on remote patients, allowing a person on the ground to dissemble satellites and reuse expensive parts such as antennas. The program will also develop a new kind of nanosatellite that hitchs a ride aboard a normal satellite launch vehicle and ejects once it reaches the correct orbit. The grave-robbing robot can then scoop up these nanosatellites and attach them to an old antenna to create a new low-cost communications platform.
Plans are in place for a first test mission in 2015, with the robot harvesting parts from an existing retired satellite and reconfiguring them for a new purpose. But the grave-robber won’t be able to go after any old satellite – the Outer Space Treaty means that any object launched into space remains the property of the country that launched it, even if it has been dumped in a graveyard orbit.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

Web 30

Web 3.0, Blockchain & Crypto

Web 3.0 is the next evolution of the internet, emphasizing decentralization, user control, and smarter technology. It builds on the limitations of Web 2.0 by

Read More

Popular Posts:

Web 30

Web 3.0, Blockchain & Crypto

Web 3.0 is the next evolution of the internet, emphasizing decentralization, user control, and smarter technology. It builds on the limitations of Web 2.0 by

Read More
WordPress Blog Posts

WordPress: Blog Posts

One of the key advantages of using WordPress for blogging is its powerful SEO capabilities. With plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math, bloggers can

Read More
iPhone 15 Website Technology

iPhone 15 Website Technology

The technology behind the iPhone 15 is primarily based on web development standards and practices. Here are some key elements and technologies that are commonly

Read More