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The ISS will become a filling station for satellites

21.01.2013

NASA is about to test a very promising satellite refueling system directly in Earth orbit on board the ISS. The first space refueling simulation is tentatively scheduled for January 23, 2013.

As early as July 12, 2011, the Atlantis shuttle unloaded a robotic refueling facility to the ISS. The device, called RRM, will seriously change approaches to the operation of space equipment, especially satellites, in the future. Today, after running out of fuel, satellites cannot maintain their orbit and, accordingly, do not perform their functions. As a result, millions of dollars have to be spent again to launch a new satellite, although the old one could have worked at least as much. It's the same as buying a new car after emptying the old one's tank.

Special satellites with RRM modules will be able to solve this problem. They will move within the busiest near-Earth orbit - geostationary, located at an altitude of about 22000 km. It is here that more than 400 satellites are located, providing the planet with meteorological data, communications, television, etc. If any of these satellites run out of fuel, the RRM will approach it and use special tools to make the necessary repairs and refueling.

The RRM module is comparable in size to a washing machine, although it weighs much more - about 250 kg. It is currently located on a 3,6-m Dexter manipulator mounted outside the ISS. The RRM module is equipped with a set of various tools: grippers, screwdriver, wire cutters, filling nozzle, etc. In 2012, RRM successfully cut two stranded wires with wire cutters.

In the new trial, RRM will use 4 other tools to accomplish an even more difficult task: filling through triple seal valves, valves found on many satellites that were never intended to be re-accessed in the first place. Most importantly, during the operation to remove insulation materials and refuel, RRM will be controlled from the Earth. In the future, tanker satellites will be controlled in this way - from a distance of thousands of kilometers, so it is necessary to prove the viability of this concept. If all goes well, the next test will take place in 2013, and all work on the RRM program is planned to continue until 2015.

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