Defense Department wants to reuse dead satellites

[kytwell 179]

Oct. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Defense is taking recycling to a higher level -- 22,000 miles above Earth, to be exact.

The military´s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has started a program called Phoenix, which seeks to develop technologies to harvest and reuse components from retired, nonworking satellites that are orbiting the Earth. DARPA hopes to create new space systems at a reduced cost, according to a news release.

"If this program is successful, space debris becomes space resource," DARPA Director Regina E. Dugan said in a statement.

The Phoenix program will use a robotic, mechanic-like vehicle to pick up still-working antennas from numerous dead satellites and attach them to smaller "satlets," or nanosatellites, launched from Earth.

The success of the Phoenix program is dependent upon participation from leaders around the globe, according to the news release.

DARPA said it will host two industry days next month for scientists and engineers interested in supplying ideas for the Phoenix program.

http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/headlines2.html?id=1319209714

[bigdog 376]

Green is in, sometimes not realistic or cost effective.

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Nerds of the world, unite!