The satellite cannibal

The US government is making plans to send robots into space that can take old satellites to bits and use the spare parts in new satellites.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) says that there is over £185 billion worth of retired satellites in orbit around the Earth. Although they have reached the end of their useful life, they often have valuable parts, such as antennas, that could potentially be used again.

Launching satellites is an expensive business, mainly because of the weight involved. As a satellite’s antenna is often one of the heaviest parts, a lot of money could be saved by launching lighter satellites with no antenna, then fixing one on in space.

However, satellites aren’t really designed to be taken apart. Instead of just unscrewing some nuts and bolts, tools would need to be developed that can grip and cut any kind of satellite.

DARPA is now calling on scientists working in many different areas to get involved and contribute to their Phoenix programme.

“If this programme is successful, space debris becomes space resource,” said DARPA director Regina E Dugan.

Watch the video below to see how Phoenix would work.

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