Pentagon starts Phoenix trial to harvest defunct satellites, MacGyver new ones from orbit

The Phoenix Frankenprogram to harvest the corpses of expired satellites and cobble together new ones seemed like one of DARPA's more daft ideas, but this one has actually kicked off its first phase of development. The plan is to first launch a service craft - replete with robotic arms and enough processing horsepower to work independently if needed - followed by the tiny base-unit skeleton satlets. The service mothership would dip into an orbital area called the "graveyard", grabbing pre-chosen cadavers and picking off usable parts, especially valuable antenna arrays, with its robo-limbs.

Engadget , Pentagon starts Phoenix trial to harvest defunct satellites, MacGyver new ones from orbit, Pentagon starts Phoenix trial to harvest defunct satellites, MacGyver new ones from orbit