Robots needed for repairs in space
Robots needed for repairs in space
2008-06-30Newsfeed
Space agencies should concentrate on developing robot mechanics rather than waste money on overly-expensive crewed satellite repair missions, according to three experts.
Space agencies should concentrate on developing robot mechanics rather than waste money on overly-expensive crewed satellite repair missions, according to three experts.
European aerospace engineers Alex Ellery, Joerg Kreidsel and Bernd Sommer argue in the journal Acta Astronautica missions like the ones flown by NASA to fix the ailing Hubble Space Telescope set the wrong agenda for the space community.
They say the space engineering industry should look at developing robotic mechanics that can sit in orbit around Earth and fix satellites on demand.
In-orbit repairs by robots have already been proven useful after the Pentagon employed a robot called Astro to dock with NextSat, a prototype serviceable craft, and replace a dead battery.
But the researchers say there is a need for cheaper and safer alternatives to human mechanics as insurance is expensive and failures costly.
The three told the New Scientist: "Scepticism of robotic in-orbit servicing is wasting the space sector vast amounts of money. There are few industries which would willingly spend $100 million on highly designed, long-lived hardware without the provision for repair and upgrade."
Copyright © The Press Association 2008
