Posted on 05/01/2006 5:14:29 PM PDT by KevinDavis
POWAY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2006--Starsys, Inc., a SpaceDev Company (OTCBB: SPDV - News) recently delivered two major subsystems -- the Spacecraft-to-Spacecraft Separation System and the Orbital Express Capture System -- for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Orbital Express program, under contract with The Boeing Company.
The goal of the Orbital Express program is to validate the feasibility of the robotic, autonomous on-orbit refueling and reconfiguration of satellites. DARPA foresees that Orbital Express-derived satellites will usher-in a revolution in space operations enabling maneuverable and up-gradable satellites supporting critical national security missions, as well as new and enhanced capabilities for civil and commercial space activities. SpaceDev's Starsys subsystems provide two functions critical to the mission: shock-less separation of the two Orbital Express spacecraft after launch, and capture and docking of the spacecraft prior to servicing.
(Excerpt) Read more at biz.yahoo.com ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.