Орбитальный дозаправщик от MDA

[Космос-3794]

Intelsat согласился приобрести за $200 млн. половину (из 2000 кг) орбитального топлива для дозаправки спутников с помощью системы разработки MDA Corp. Т.о. предполагается продлить жизнь 4-5 спутникам на 2-4 года. Масса дозаправщика вместе с топливом ок. 6000 кг.
http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/intelsat-signs-for-satellite-refueling-service.html

[Потусторонний]

Intelsat согласился приобрести за $200 млн. половину (из 2000 кг) орбитального топлива для дозаправки спутников с помощью системы разработки MDA Corp.

На спутниках Intelsat уже есть оборудование для дозаправки? :?:

[PIN]

Если это не гон, то это значит, что у всех получателей одинаковый заправочный разъем и возможность открытия клапана (fill & drain valve) либо непосредственно с разьема, либо телекомандой.

[X]

Если это не гон, то это значит, что у всех получателей одинаковый заправочный разъем и возможность открытия клапана (fill & drain valve) либо непосредственно с разьема, либо телекомандой.

Есть уточняющая тема, из которой следует, что заправлять собираются существующий парк спутников, что происходить это будет через три года самое раннее, и проплачен натурный эксперимент скорее, чем просто заправка.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/100402-nasa-plans-refuel-mock-satellite.html
Робот - спутник, готовый ремонтировать и заправлять на орбите неприспособленные для этого спутники. Так и представляю - клешня захват, манипулятор со сверлом - присоской. Красиво  

[YAV]

хорошие новости, не прошло и года   , интересно, чем дело кончится

[ZOOR]

ЕМНИП за два года, что я на форуме, это уже минимум третье подобное сообщение. Если бы поиск нормально работал, можно было-бы найти их и посмотреть, как развивались идеи - это всегда интересно  :roll:

[Космос-3794]

ЕМНИП за два года, что я на форуме, это уже минимум третье подобное сообщение. Если бы поиск нормально работал, можно было-бы найти их и посмотреть, как развивались идеи - это всегда интересно  :roll:

Кое-что здесь - http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=553405#553405

[Sharicoff]

Официальный пресс-релиз от Интелсата.
http://www.intelsat.com/press/news-releases/2011/20110315-1.asp

Intelsat Picks MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. for Satellite Servicing

Luxembourg and Vancouver, BC: 15 March 2011
Intelsat S.A., the world's leading provider of fixed satellite services, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. ("MDA") for the servicing of Intelsat's on-orbit satellites via a space-based service vehicle to be provided by MDA. The innovative technology has the potential to extend the useful lives of Intelsat's satellites and enhance in-orbit reliability. The services provided by MDA to Intelsat under this agreement are valued at more than US$280 million over the timeframe during which services will be delivered.

MDA plans to launch its Space Infrastructure Servicing ("SIS") vehicle into near geosynchronous orbit, where it will service commercial and government satellites in need of additional fuel, re-positioning or other maintenance. MDA has selected Intelsat General Corporation as its exclusive channel to bring on-orbit services to the US Government.

The SIS vehicle is expected to be the first of its kind, utilizing a sophisticated robotics and docking system. This system will be based on work that MDA has previously performed for NASA, the Canadian Space Agency and various Department of Defense agencies.  The SIS vehicle's robotic arm will not only be used in refueling, but could also be used to perform critical maintenance and repair tasks, such as releasing jammed deployable arrays and stabilizing or towing smaller space objects or debris. Intelsat, the world's largest operator of commercial satellites in the geosynchronous arc, is expected to provide flight operations support for the SIS vehicle for the life of the mission.

Under the terms of the agreement, MDA and Intelsat will work together to finalize specifications and other requirements over the next six months before both parties authorize the build phase of the program. The first refueling mission is to be available 3.5 years following the commencement of the build phase.

"On-orbit refueling and servicing is a game-changing innovation," said Thierry Guillemin, Chief Technical Officer of Intelsat. "It is important for Intelsat, managing the largest commercial satellite fleet, to support technologies and tools that expand our capabilities in space.  We intend to implement this technology as a tool in fleet management that will improve operational reliability, increase the return on our on-orbit assets, ensure good stewardship of the space environment and deliver this increased flexibility to our government customers as well."

"We are very pleased to have Intelsat, the world's leading provider of fixed satellite services, as the anchor customer for our new SIS offering and our partner in accessing the US government market," said Dan Friedmann, President and CEO of MDA. "There is a clear need to service the world's space infrastructure, both commercial and government. The combination of MDA's unparalleled and proven space servicing capabilities and Intelsat's commercial and government market presence is a good way to get this new service off the ground."
To access an animation of how the on-orbit refueling process will work, please visit the following link: http://www.mdacorporation.com

Media attending SATELLITE 2011 are encouraged to attend Intelsat's press briefing in Room 103B at the Washington Convention Center. The event takes place Tuesday, March 15, 11am – noon, and will be attended by Intelsat CEO Dave McGlade, CTO Thierry Guillemin, Intelsat General Corporation President Kay Sears, and MDA Vice President Steve Oldham.
Contact:

Dianne VanBeber
Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications
dianne.vanbeber@intelsat.com
+1 202 944 7406
About Intelsat

Intelsat is the leading provider of fixed satellite services worldwide. For over 45 years, Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world's leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet Service Providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat's satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video, data and voice services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and broadband access, with Intelsat, advanced communications anywhere in the world are closer, by far. For more information, visit www.intelsat.com

[Sharicoff]

Пресс-релиз от подрядчика:
http://www.mdacorporation.com/corporate/news/pr/pr2011031501.cfm

For immediate release: March 15, 2011

Intelsat Picks MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. for Satellite Servicing

Luxembourg and Vancouver, BC

Intelsat S.A., the world's leading provider of fixed satellite services, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. ("MDA") for the servicing of Intelsat's on-orbit satellites via a space-based service vehicle to be provided by MDA. The innovative technology has the potential to extend the useful lives of Intelsat's satellites and enhance in-orbit reliability. The services provided by MDA to Intelsat under this agreement are valued at more than US$280 million over the timeframe during which services will be delivered.

MDA plans to launch its Space Infrastructure Servicing ("SIS") vehicle into near geosynchronous orbit, where it will service commercial and government satellites in need of additional fuel, re-positioning or other maintenance. MDA has selected Intelsat General Corporation as its exclusive channel to bring on-orbit services to the US Government.

The SIS vehicle is expected to be the first of its kind, utilizing a sophisticated robotics and docking system. This system will be based on work that MDA has previously performed for NASA, the Canadian Space Agency and various Department of Defense agencies. The SIS vehicle's robotic arm will not only be used in refueling, but could also be used to perform critical maintenance and repair tasks, such as releasing jammed deployable arrays and stabilizing or towing smaller space objects or debris. Intelsat, the world's largest operator of commercial satellites in the geosynchronous arc, is expected to provide flight operations support for the SIS vehicle for the life of the mission.

Under the terms of the agreement, MDA and Intelsat will work together to finalize specifications and other requirements over the next six months before both parties authorize the build phase of the program. The first refueling mission is to be available 3.5 years following the commencement of the build phase.

"On-orbit refueling and servicing is a game-changing innovation," said Thierry Guillemin, Chief Technical Officer of Intelsat. "It is important for Intelsat, managing the largest commercial satellite fleet, to support technologies and tools that expand our capabilities in space. We intend to implement this technology as a tool in fleet management that will improve operational reliability, increase the return on our on-orbit assets, ensure good stewardship of the space environment and deliver this increased flexibility to our government customers as well."

"We are very pleased to have Intelsat, the world's leading provider of fixed satellite services, as the anchor customer for our new SIS offering and our partner in accessing the US government market," said Dan Friedmann, President and CEO of MDA. "There is a clear need to service the world's space infrastructure, both commercial and government. The combination of MDA's unparalleled and proven space servicing capabilities and Intelsat's commercial and government market presence is a good way to get this new service off the ground."

To access an animation of how the on-orbit refueling process will work, please visit the following link:
http://www.mdacorporation.com/corporate/news/press/ServiceMission.cfm

Media attending SATELLITE 2011 are encouraged to attend Intelsat's press briefing in Room 103B at the Washington Convention Center. The event takes place Tuesday, March 15, 11am – noon, and will be attended by Intelsat CEO Dave McGlade, CTO Thierry Guillemin, Intelsat General Corporation President Kay Sears, and MDA Vice President Steve Oldham.

MDA will host a conference call and webcast at 6:30 a.m. PDT (9:30 a.m. EDT), featuring remarks by Dan Friedmann, president and CEO, and Anil Wirasekara, executive vice-president and CFO. A slide presentation will be available for viewing during the conference call and webcast. To access this slide presentation, please visit the following link:
http://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=296742&s=1&k=56772B2FEB41E13D9B4A98B540A973C4

Following the presentation, there will be an interactive question and answer session.

To participate, please call the conference line approximately five minutes prior to the commencement of the call:

Conference Call Dial-In Numbers:
US/Canada: 1-888-231-8191
International: 1-647-427-7450

Instant Replay
Toll Free: 1-800-642-1687
Toronto: 1-416-849-0833
Password: 51536071

The conference call will be archived at:
http://www.mdacorporation.com/corporate/investor/events.cfm

[Sharicoff]

Ой, какой он большой... Под него же наверное как минимум монопуск Ариана понадобится...



http://www.mdacorporation.com/corporate/news/press/ServiceMission.cfm

[Sharicoff]

Елки-пали, у него еще и баки с заправляемыми компонентами по ходу дела сменные.

[Gradient]

Ой, какой он большой... Под него же наверное как минимум монопуск Ариана понадобится...

Боюсь даже предположить, что понадобиться как максимум :roll:
А вообще, да чукча не читатель, в первом же посте написано.

http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/intelsat-signs-for-satellite-refueling-service.html

The maiden flight of the vehicle would be on an International Launch Services Proton rocket, industry officials said.  One official said the MDA spacecraft, including its 2,000 kilograms of refueling propellant, is likely to weigh around 6,000 kilograms at launch.

[Sharicoff]

Этот слонопотам же там всех Менторов распугает - они существа тонкие, ранимые.  

А вообще интересно конечно: кому Интелсат собирается сбывать рухлядь 20-летней давности? Или закладываются на возможные будущие ограничения по использованию ресурсов ГСО?  :roll:

[Valerij]

Елки-пали, у него еще и баки с заправляемыми компонентами по ходу дела сменные.

там все намного круче - они уже замахиваются не только на только на дозаправку, но и на ремонт КА на орбите:

The highly successful Orbital Express demonstration mission concluded in early July with one of the most challenging operations of the mission - an autonomous free-flyer capture using a robotic arm, developed by MDA.

From a distance of 9 kms, ASTRO approached and circled NextSat, performing a final inspection of the two spacecraft. Next, the robotic arm tracked and grappled the free flying NextSat, joining the two satellites. ASTRO also used its robot arm to remove and re-insert a spare flight computer, which served during the mission as a primary sensor processor, in this final scenario.

This scenario marked the second successful grapple and capture of the NextSat free flyer by ASTRO using the robotic arm, with the first fully autonomous capture having been completed a week earlier.

Mission-critical operations involving robotics, software, avionics, sensors, cameras, lights and ground control solutions developed by MDA were integral in demonstrating the string of "world firsts" credited to the mission -
Autonomous capture of a satellite by another satellite using a robotic arm
Autonomous transfer of a battery Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) from one satellite to another using a robotic arm
Autonomous video survey of spacecraft
Autonomous transfer of fuel to a satellite

Это вот здесь: http://sm.mdacorporation.com/what_we_do/oe_9.html

Так что возможности этого спутника намного круче, чем любого "спутника-инспектора". И возможность дозаправки спутника и получения им ремкомплекта с Земли в этой связи вполне логичны.

З.Ы.
Интересно, а на этом спутнике-ремонтнике будут камеры высокого разрешения для съемки процесса сближения и стыковки, да и для "осмотра" других спутников, мимо которых будет пролетать "ремонтник"?
Тоже ведь картинка, которой раньше никто не видел....

[Sharicoff]

там все намного круче - они уже замахиваются не только на только на дозаправку, но и на ремонт КА на орбите:

Orbital Express - это другая программа.

[Потусторонний]

Этими "ручками" он будет отвинчивать гайки у инспектируемых спутников

А по такой картинке с земли будут рассматривать маркировку (тот ли спутник курочаем).  

Это - Orbital Express.
Но задачи похожие: Автономное сближение. Фиксация. Манипуляции манипулятором.

[Valerij]

там все намного круче - они уже замахиваются не только на только на дозаправку, но и на ремонт КА на орбите:

Orbital Express - это другая программа.

Я так и понял. Это две разные, но комплиментарные программы.
С одной стороны спутник-ремонтник/заправщик, с другой группировка спутников, приспособленных для заправки, ремонта и апгрейда на одной или близких орбитах.

[Космос-3794]

Интересные подробности:

MDA SIS robotic servicer, combined with a satellite platform to be built by ISS Reshetnev of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, could weigh close to 4,000 kilograms.

Заправка походу будет проводиться ректально:

the SIS robotic arm will reach through the nozzle of the apogee motor to find and unscrew the satellite's fuel cap.

http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/110318intelsat-signs-for-mdas-satellite-refueling-service.html

[Брабонт]

Вот этого момента я пока не понимаю, как можно дозаправить бак через сопло?

[Старый]

Чтото у меня такое чувство что это химера.