Herself’s Artificial Intelligence

I don’t know how I missed this story last year. Flying robots that repair satellites are cool. Maybe in time we’ll have robot mechanics patrolling the highways and fixing disabled vehicles?

Boeing Orbital Express system is a DARPA project hoping to demonstrate fully autonomous on orbit satellite servicing capabilities. Which in plain English means robot satellites who service and repair other satellites. These satellite mechanics will fly as high as 7 km.

Last year Boeing successfully demonstrated refueling and battery replacement using autonomous robots. Using robot satellites to refuel and do maintenance on other satellites will greatly drop the cost of using satellites.

Two Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Orbital Express
demonstrator spacecraft were launched yesterday at 10:10 p.m. EST, from Space Launch
Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., aboard an Atlas V 401 booster. The launch
was sponsored by the Department of Defense Space Test Program (STP), as part of the STP-1
mission, which includes, in addition to Orbital Express, the STPSat-1 spacecraft and three other
microsatellites.

Orbital Express consists of a next generation serviceable “client” satellite (NextSat) and a
prototype servicing spacecraft (Autonomous Space Transport Robotic Orbiter or ASTRO). They
were deployed together into a circular, 492-kilometer, low earth orbit with an inclination of 46
degrees. They will spend the next three months in orbit, demonstrating for the first time fully
autonomous rendezvous and capture of client spacecraft, satellite-to-satellite refueling, and
replacement of battery and flight-computer orbital replacement units.

More information:
Boeing Orbital Express
The REal R2D2: ASTRO Takes on Space Rogues
Darpa: Orbital Express ( has videos and photos )