Northrop’s robot space mechanic is a new way to keep satellites at work longer
Northrop’s robot space mechanic is a new way to keep satellites at work longer
诺斯罗普·格鲁曼的机器人太空维修工：延长卫星寿命的新途径
High above the Earth, a new generation of robots designed to keep satellites working longer is replacing its predecessor — quite literally. This week, a spacecraft built and operated by Northrop Grumman called a Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) unplugged from a communications satellite operated by the Australian firm Optus. 在地球高空，新一代旨在延长卫星工作寿命的机器人正在取代其前身——而且是字面意义上的取代。本周，由诺斯罗普·格鲁曼公司（Northrop Grumman）制造并运营的“任务延寿飞行器”（MEV）与澳大利亚 Optus 公司运营的一颗通信卫星完成了脱离。
For more than a year, the MEV spacecraft has been stuck to the back of the Optus satellite, keeping it in the right place in space so it can continue its mission. Now, the satellite life-extension spacecraft is leaving to make room for its replacement. 在过去一年多的时间里，这台 MEV 飞行器一直附着在 Optus 卫星的后部，使其保持在太空中的正确位置，从而确保其能够继续执行任务。现在，这台卫星延寿飞行器即将离开，为它的继任者腾出空间。
In July, four new Northrop spacecraft launched into orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. One is called the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), a powerful satellite equipped with two advanced robotic arms that was developed by DARPA, the U.S. military research organization. The other three are called Mission Extension Pods, or MEPs, smaller, simpler satellites that are essentially modular propulsion systems. Those four spacecraft are currently headed for targets around 27,000 miles above the Earth. 今年 7 月，四台新的诺斯罗普飞行器搭乘 SpaceX 的猎鹰 9 号火箭发射升空。其中一台被称为“任务机器人飞行器”（MRV），这是一颗功能强大的卫星，配备了两只由美国军方研究机构 DARPA 开发的先进机械臂。另外三台被称为“任务延寿舱”（MEPs），它们是更小、更简单的卫星，本质上是模块化的推进系统。这四台飞行器目前正前往距离地球约 27,000 英里的目标轨道。
In 2027, the MRV will use its robotic arms to attach one of the MEP pods to the Optus satellite, which should keep it in orbit for years to come. The satellites that provide communications or scan the planet with various sensors only last for so long. They typically fail when they run out of fuel to stay in the right place, not because their computers and transceivers stop working. 2027 年，MRV 将利用其机械臂将其中一个 MEP 延寿舱安装到 Optus 卫星上，这将使其在未来几年内继续保持在轨运行。提供通信或利用各种传感器扫描地球的卫星寿命有限。它们通常是因为燃料耗尽、无法维持在正确位置而失效，而不是因为计算机和收发器停止工作。
The Optus satellite was launched in 2009, and designed for a 15-year lifespan. If all goes well, the satellite could fly — and generate revenue — for another six years. Now, cheaper launch costs and lower-cost space components are making spacecraft repair missions a reality. Optus 卫星于 2009 年发射，设计寿命为 15 年。如果一切顺利，这颗卫星还能继续飞行并产生收益长达六年。如今，更低的发射成本和更廉价的太空组件正使航天器维修任务成为现实。
The goal is “a paradigm shift where we can see space as sustainable, with a more resilient architecture and infrastructure base where we can do things like spacecraft repairs, life extension, or even upgrades and maintenance of satellites,” according to Northrop’s director of logistics and servicing, Cassie Wong. 诺斯罗普物流与服务总监 Cassie Wong 表示，其目标是“实现一种范式转移，让我们将太空视为可持续发展的领域，拥有更具韧性的架构和基础设施基础，从而能够进行航天器维修、延寿，甚至卫星升级和维护等工作。”
There are two MEVs in orbit right now, launched in 2019 and 2020, which have provided 10 years of life extension to three customers, including two different Intelsat spacecraft and the Optus satellite. MEV-1 will wait in a parking orbit for another customer, while MEV-2 is currently attached to its Intelsat customer until 2030. 目前轨道上有两台 MEV，分别于 2019 年和 2020 年发射，已为三位客户提供了总计 10 年的延寿服务，其中包括两颗不同的国际通信卫星（Intelsat）和这颗 Optus 卫星。MEV-1 将在停泊轨道等待下一位客户，而 MEV-2 目前则附着在 Intelsat 客户卫星上，服务将持续到 2030 年。
The Mission Robotic Vehicle, or MRV, represents an evolution of the business model. Satellite operators buy and own the MEPs, which are permanently attached to their spacecraft. That frees up the MRV to service more vehicles, creating a cheaper offering. “任务机器人飞行器”（MRV）代表了商业模式的演进。卫星运营商购买并拥有 MEP 延寿舱，这些舱体将永久附着在他们的航天器上。这使得 MRV 可以腾出手来服务更多的飞行器，从而提供更具性价比的服务。
The offering requires some serious technology chops. The vehicles need to autonomously approach one another and dock safely, not a simple task when both are moving at velocities of thousands of miles an hour. The MEVs use a docking probe to plug in and hang onto satellite thruster nozzles. Meanwhile, the MRVs will need to carefully attach the MEPs using their robotic arms. 这项服务需要极高的技术实力。飞行器需要自主接近并安全对接，当两者都以每小时数千英里的速度移动时，这绝非易事。MEV 使用对接探针插入并挂在卫星的推进器喷嘴上。与此同时，MRV 则需要利用机械臂小心地安装 MEP 延寿舱。
Unlike most satellites, the MRV is designed to be refueled in orbit — in part, a proof of concept for the kind of capabilities other satellites will need if this kind of in-orbit servicing becomes a norm. Right now, the extra cost and weight of such adaptations keeps spacecraft operators from investing in them. 与大多数卫星不同，MRV 被设计为可以在轨道上进行燃料补给——这在一定程度上验证了如果此类在轨服务成为常态，其他卫星所需具备的能力。目前，此类改装带来的额外成本和重量阻碍了航天器运营商进行投资。
Indeed, the current trend in satellites is flying lots of cheap, effectively replaceable spacecraft in low orbits, as Starlink and Amazon LEO do. On the other hand, spacecraft keep getting bigger, and there are plenty of expensive, large satellites in orbit that could benefit from life extension. 事实上，当前的卫星趋势是在低轨道上部署大量廉价且可有效替换的航天器，正如星链（Starlink）和亚马逊 LEO 项目所做的那样。另一方面，航天器正变得越来越大，轨道上也有许多昂贵的大型卫星可以从延寿服务中受益。
Wong hopes that the MRV will take on other missions in the future, adding new components to satellites as well as adjusting their orbits. That’s likely to include defense customers, given the number of expensive satellites it owns in high orbits, and DARPA’s involvement in developing the MRV’s arms. Wong 希望 MRV 未来能承担其他任务，例如为卫星添加新组件以及调整轨道。考虑到国防客户在高轨道上拥有大量昂贵的卫星，且 DARPA 参与了 MRV 机械臂的开发，这些任务很可能包括国防领域的客户。
Indeed, the U.S. Space Force has previously characterized a Chinese servicing spacecraft with robotic arms as a weapon, since it could theoretically grapple and degrade a rival satellite. Northrop says that its vehicles are focused on servicing missions. The vehicle could also be used in LEO, Wong says, to extend the life with valuable assets there. 事实上，美国太空军此前曾将中国带有机械臂的维修航天器定性为武器，因为从理论上讲，它可以抓取并破坏竞争对手的卫星。诺斯罗普表示，其飞行器专注于维修任务。Wong 表示，该飞行器也可以在低地球轨道（LEO）使用，以延长那里宝贵资产的寿命。
The startup Katalyst Space is attempting a similar mission to extend the life of a NASA space telescope after malfunctions left its vehicle tumbling last month. The company has a fix in place and hopes to complete the mission. 初创公司 Katalyst Space 正在尝试一项类似的任务，旨在延长 NASA 一台太空望远镜的寿命，此前该望远镜上个月因故障导致飞行器失控翻滚。该公司已制定了修复方案，并希望完成此次任务。