European Space Agency will launch giant claw that drags space junk to its doom

The Register ^ | Nov 27, 2020 | Simon Sharwood

[dayglored]

It's a swarm. One claw thing per satellite.

I think there would be plenty of time to react on the ground -- it probably takes days for a claw to match orbits and speeds and approach a target.

[Does so]

The Swiss wouldn’t do that.

Except maybe against Trump!

[Terry L Smith]

Richard Benjamin’s Space Ship Quark comes to life!

[RoosterRedux]

[BigpapaBo]

There was a short lived TV series about a space junk recycler. Late 70’s maybe early 80’s.

[BigpapaBo]

Salvage 1. With Andy Griffith.

[ETL]

Junkyard in Space - Lost In Space TV series (1968)

(this was the final episode of the series)

“A fire breaks out aboard the Jupiter 2 and the Robinsons must land on a nearby planet to make repairs. They momentarily lose contact with the Robot, who has taken the space pod to scout ahead.

Upon landing, the family discovers the entire planet is a massive junkyard run by a strange metallic junkman who has no intention of letting the Robinsons leave.

When the ship’s food supply becomes contaminated by a “rust blight,” Dr. Smith bargains with the junkman for food, offering parts from the Robot to replace the junkman’s own degrading circuits.

The junkman eventually sets his sights on Jupiter 2, and after upgrading himself with the Robot’s parts, he steals the ship with Dr. Smith aboard and leaves the Robinsons behind.

Will follows in the space pod hoping the Robot’s memory banks, now part of the junkman, can influence a change of heart.”

Guest star: Marcel Hillaire (Junkman)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Lost_in_Space_episodes#Season_3_(1967%E2%80%9368)

[ETL]

Below, The Robot being melted down for its metal, through an 'arrangement' between the Junk dealer and the good Doctor Smith.

[tm61]

How about a really big Roomba ?

[martin_fierro]

[rlmorel]

[wally_bert]

Jettison Salvage wouldn’t have to go to the moon to bring back that stuff.

[wally_bert]

The galaxy ad inifinitum.

[wally_bert]

Part of a plot from Gerry Anderson’s UFO.

He eventually got the budget ok to clear space junk.

[cyclotic]

My son “flies” an array of satellites at NASA. He says that once in a while they have to adjust the orbit to evade collisions with random junk. His array is four units that fly in formation worth about a billion dollars each, so they take it kind of seriously.

[dayglored]

> My son “flies” an array of satellites at NASA. He says that once in a while they have to adjust the orbit to evade collisions with random junk.

That's extremely cool! In the 80's I designed attitude control system components for NASA (infrared sensors, electromagnetic torquers, reaction wheels, control electronics), which was great, but I never got to "fly" them. I was part of the team that did the big EM torquers on the Hubble, so at least I get to see them in photos. :-)

> His array is four units that fly in formation worth about a billion dollars each, so they take it kind of seriously.

Yes, I believe they do. Your son is very fortunate, please convey my regards.

[Bratch]

[dayglored]

"Quark" was a great show (in the same way that "Get Smart" was a great show, same creator). Shame it didn't last.

The twins were awesome. Back in the days when cheesecake was legal.

[Bratch]

They were former University of Kentucky cheerleaders back in the early 70’s. Daughters of UK great Dale Barnstable.

Nowadays they host the biggest Derby Eve party in Louisville...pre-Covid.

[dfwgator]

Commence Operation...Vacu-Suck!