Coming: Robotic Satellite Repairs

Within the next five years, the Defense Department’s primary research agency intends to demonstrate the capability to deploy robotic devices to repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit 22,000 miles above the earth. If successful, such operations could save money by extending satellites’ life span and minimizing the amount of potentially hazardous space junk that could hinder useful ones’ flight paths. For such an endeavor to work, industry must be a full partner, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which is spearheading the effort. “We’re asking the space community to think hard about how they want the future of space operations to look and how GEO [geostationary earth orbit] robotics could help,” said Gordon Roesler, the program manager at DARPA. The agency is asking potential industry partners to submit their ideas by Nov. 3.