Space Mining for Profit and Recycling.

[N2NH]

Seems that even the Pentagon is planning to recycle these days.


Call it space grave robbery for a cause: Imagine scavenging defunct communication satellites for their valuable parts and recycling them to build brand new ones for cheap.It's the latest pet project from the Pentagon's research wing known for its quirky and sometimes out-there ideas. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is spending $180 million to test technologies that could make this possible.
When satellites retire, certain parts - such as antennas and solar panels - often still work. There's currently no routine effort to salvage and reuse satellite parts once they're launched into space.
DARPA thinks it can save money by repurposing in orbit.

Is it worth spending $180 Million to salvage some old parts is the question, but it's the Pentagon, so WTF.

Space Grave Recycling. (http://www.wunderground.com/news/pentagon-dead-satellites-20130124)

[KC2UGV]

Solar Panels and RTG's alone would make the salvaging operation profitable.

[n2ize]

I think it is a good idea.

[WØTKX]

I would absolutely love to have a job doing that.
Talk about an extreme green recycling gig, eh?

I can see it now, a new sci-fi sitcom;
Spacely Sprockets and Sons, Salvage.

http://afterglowstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SpaceJunkScreengrabs.jpg

[NQ6U]

I would absolutely love to have a job doing that.

Same here. I've imagined being a sort of blue-collar space worker ever since I was a kid.

[XE1/N5AL]

The DARPA project slogan could be: "I Wanna Be Around To Pick Up The Pieces".

[n2ize]

Actually DARPA built the Internet. DARPA does a lot of cool stuff. I love DARPA.

[XE1/N5AL]

Yes, DARPA does cool stuff. Earlier, I was joking about this space salvage project set against the late-50's/60's song, sung by Tony Bennett, Sinatra and a bunch of other performers over the years. If someone picks up on the humor, they are probably older than me and thus worthy of a free pass to "Walk On My Lawn" anytime they wish!

Reading the article, I was wondering if DARPA had considered any insidious uses of such a technology. This "robot mechanic" might maneuver itself alongside a satellite from another nation to accomplish some type of surgical espionage, or sabotage goal.

[N2NH]

The DARPA project slogan could be: "I Wanna Be Around To Pick Up The Pieces".

When Somebody Breaks Your Sat...

[kb2vxa]

They'll need a really big net to scoop up all the junk that's up there. Back in the 60s William Shatner wasn't the only one to record terrible albums, worst of the lot was Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space. He made reference to Lady Bird Johnson's Keep America Beautiful campaign, the Vulcan leader's wife has a Keep Space Beautiful campaign. He goes on about "rocket fumes, old nose cones and even a corned beef sandwich... really". I guess nobody mentions the Russian Cosmonaut floating around up there but maybe DARPA will be nice about it and return the body.

Oh, the album contains an instrumental version of a song sung by Nicole Nichols (Uhura) in one of the episodes, Beyond Antares. Twinkle twinkle little Earth, how I wonder what you're worth. I wonder too, now there's so much more Cosmik Debris than there was in the 60s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqFgQepSFEM

[KG4CGC]

They'll need a really big net to scoop up all the junk that's up there. Back in the 60s William Shatner wasn't the only one to record terrible albums, worst of the lot was Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space. He made reference to Lady Bird Johnson's Keep America Beautiful campaign, the Vulcan leader's wife has a Keep Space Beautiful campaign. He goes on about "rocket fumes, old nose cones and even a corned beef sandwich... really". I guess nobody mentions the Russian Cosmonaut floating around up there but maybe DARPA will be nice about it and return the body.

Oh, the album contains an instrumental version of a song sung by Nicole Nichols (Uhura) in one of the episodes, Beyond Antares. Twinkle twinkle little Earth, how I wonder what you're worth. I wonder too, now there's so much more Cosmik Debris than there was in the 60s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqFgQepSFEM
You can't get away with posting that without this follow up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGF5ROpjRAU

[N2NH]

Aye Captain! My ears canna take it anymoar!

http://youtu.be/D-yy2URAYqU

[kb2vxa]

"You can't get away with posting that without this follow up."
One of his "better" ones. If you really want ear bleed try this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zm9KqoU6e8

"Aye Captain! My ears canna take it anymoar!"
You can do better than that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hARDXYz2io
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXuSWUXDnuo