A few days ago, on the International Space Station a test of the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) was successfully carried out showing how the remotely controlled robot Dextre and specialized tools can operate with precision on satellites in orbit.
The robot Dextre is a product of a collaboration between NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and aims to perform refueling and maintenance work on the International Space Station but also on satellites. Generally, when a satellite is being prepared to be put into orbit, its tank is filled and sealed to be never touched again. So far, running out of fuel meant that the satellite became dead, even if its instruments still worked. The Robotic Refueling Mission could change this state of things.
The RRM mission uses the robot Dextre and four new tools that can cut and manipulate wires, unscrew caps, open and close valves and transfer fluids. Special cameras allow the technicians who control Dextre and the RRM tools to have a close view of what’s happening.
The robot Dextre, also known as Special Purpose dexterous Manipulator (SPDM), was taken to the International Space Station about four years ago on the Space Shuttle Endeavour mission STS-123. Over time it has already been used for various remotely controlled maintenance tasks that reduce the need for “space walks” by astronauts.
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Last year, in the last mission of the Space Shuttle, the STS-135, the Atlantis brought to the International Space Station the module for the Robotic Refueling Mission. Thus, there was the completion of the remote control system that should allow to perform a number of service operations.
The test carried out between March 7 and 9, 2012 reached a new level of sophistication in remotely controlled operations. A mock satellite was used to test the first stage of a supply operation into orbit with the opening of the tank. This summer the second phase of testing is scheduled, with the transfer of fuel into the mock satellite.
If everything goes as hoped, in the coming years it will be possible to start supplying real satellites. This will reduce not only the need to build new satellites saving on their costs but also the amount of just in orbit with the connected danger.
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