Can satellites be serviced?

[Ethan13]

Satellite service is great. But have you ever wondered how many satellites are needed for all of us to receive these services? Who launches satellites? How often do these things need to be replaced? Can they be served?

 

[NYDutch]

DBS satellites are launched by the same services in the US and other countries that launch the other satellites used for various communications, GPS, weather observation, spying, etc. DBS satellites usually have a rated life in the 15-20 year range, although some have kept on working longer. The only "service" they can receive in space are those things that can be controlled by radio command from the ground such as repositioning, software updates, etc.

 

[TV Junkie]

Satellite service is great. But have you ever wondered how many satellites are needed for all of us to receive these services? Who launches satellites? How often do these things need to be replaced? Can they be served?

Welcome!

Look up your favorite bird. All the stats are there. Here is a popular one:

Galaxy 19 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Ethan13]

Thanks for your reply. But you shouldn't trust Wikipedia lately. I also wonder how much the industry can change. For example, if inexpensive launches from any latitude and so on are possible.

 

[TV Junkie]

Thanks for your reply. But you shouldn't trust Wikipedia lately. I also wonder how much the industry can change. For example, if inexpensive launches from any latitude and so on are possible.

I agree about wikipedia but I think they are a pretty safe source for things like galaxy19.

As for inexpensive, probably doesn't get much cheaper than sea launch.

 

[NYDutch]

The space industry is constantly changing, but building and launching satellites is still an expensive business that doesn't readily lend itself to mobile locations. SpaceX has brought the costs of launching smaller satellites way down with its ride sharing program that has launched a record 143 sats with one reusable first stage rocket. I'm not sure what would be gained by being able to launch from any latitude beyond possibly some small satellite fuel savings while reaching final orbit and location.

 

[Ethan13]

I hope that technology will allow for smaller satellites. This is probably already happening. And this will allow more satellites to be launched in the same payload volume. Also, I think that new cheap fuel could help.

 

[NYDutch]

I hope that technology will allow for smaller satellites. This is probably already happening. And this will allow more satellites to be launched in the same payload volume. Also, I think that new cheap fuel could help.

The physical size of a satellite is largely dependent on its purpose. The cost of the launch fuel is a minor factor in the overall scheme of things. But the amount of fuel needed to keep a satellite in its assigned location for a given period of time is a big factor in the satellite size needed. For DBS, the size of the solar panels needed to power the electronics and the number of antenna arrays needed are also factors affecting the size. SpaceX launched 143 small satellites, many for use in relatively short term research projects. Satellites this size would have little application in the DBS industry. The many Starlink LEO satellites that SpaceX is currently launching, usually in batches of 60, are relatively quite small at about 500 lbs each with a limited ~5 year life compared to the "full-sized" sats used at much high elevations with a much longer life.

 

[solarvic]

I have a relative that works for a defense contractor that is already working on such a satelites that can be sent to other satalites to make repairs and service them . Also the reason they picked cape canaveral is it is south closer to the equator. Since most of the communication satelites travel in the equator they can use them for both northern and southern hemisphere. Launching the satelites from the equater gives them a fling effect to get into orbit.

 

[TV Junkie]

allow more satellites to be launched in the same payload

Here ya go, 60 birds at insertion

Starlink - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[TheKrell]

The only "service" they can receive in space are those things that can be controlled by radio command from the ground such as repositioning, software updates, etc.

I would only point out that certain low altitude high value satellites have indeed been serviced. Cases I can think of off the top of my head include Hubble and multiple space stations. Anybody remember Skylab?

I also wonder how much the industry can change. For example, if inexpensive launches from any latitude and so on are possible.

The lower the latitude, the more free velocity you get.

The space industry is constantly changing, but building and launching satellites is still an expensive business that doesn't readily lend itself to mobile locations.

Exactly right. I don't know of anybody who has launched an orbital satellite off one of the poles, for example. But a sea launch has both advantages and disadvantages. If the rocket can survive floating in the water, you literally don't even need a launch platform. But some sort of barge would fix that situation at the expense of time to move it where you want it.

Launching the satelites from the equater gives them a fling effect to get into orbit.

Free energy! IIRC you get an extra 1000mph if launching eastward simly due to the spin of the earth.

 

[TV Junkie]

Anybody remember Skylab?

I do. I was going there for summer camp but didn't have a ride. They said they could pick me up. They didn't. I always wondered what happened? Oh well...

 

[Ethan13]

I have seen several projects that promised refuelling of satellites and rockets right in orbit. The gas station that will actually work should be launched for the first time within a year. I don’t remember what it’s called. But it seems to me that this can change a lot in different aspects of space exploration.

 

[solarvic]

Northrop Grumman is already servicing satelites. If you do a google search for northrop grumman servicing satelites. They have lots of contracts for building them. I guess you will need to do your own search as I am not having much luck at pasting the address There is all kinds of satelites bieing developed and made by Northrup Grumman. You will see I am not talking thru my hat!!!

 

[Ethan13]

RocketLab recently launched 1(!) Satellite. There were rumours that it was the launch of some kind of government satellite. But the very fact of launching a single satellite as a payload is interesting.
Although, if all companies start launching satellites one at a time, then we can get a lot of noise and a lot of new CO2 emissions.

 

[Ethan13]

Support Vox’s explanatory journalism Northrop Grumman is already servicing satelites. If you do a google search for northrop grumman servicing satelites. They have lots of contracts for building them. I guess you will need to do your own search as the address is to suport the news organization. There is all kinds of satelites bieing developed and made by Northrup Grumman. You will see I was not talking thru my hat!!!

It seems that this name I could not remember in the previous post.
It's great that this is already working. Some projects seem impressive to me, but they are so often delayed. I thought this company would also postpone the launch for another year.

 

[TV Junkie]

if all companies start launching satellites one at a time, then we can get a lot of noise and a lot of new CO2 emissions.

And also a lot of bright lights, what with all those rocket plumes

 

[solarvic]

I tryd to attach a few youtube vidios but I couldn,t get them pasted here as I am not too computer savy. But if you search Northrop Gruman satelite servicing you can get more information than you can believe. The satelite launches and connects to a satelite that was decomissioned to the junk yard in space and attachs to the satelite brings it back the clark belt and travels with it for a few years more use. This is for satelites that run out of fuel but are still in working condition. When that satelite finally fails for some other reason it is put back in the junk yard orbit and the rescue satelite gets another satelite and moves it to clark orbit and does the same like it did with first satelite.





i tryed to attach a couple of youtube

 

[TV Junkie]

@ solarvic

 

[solarvic]

@ solarvic

TV Junkie. Thanks you for getting the you tube vidio. Now people will know I wasn,t just talking thru my hat. I still hope that others will do thier research to Northrop gruman about satelite servicing.