DARPA issues presolicitation notice for satellite recycling project -- Defense Systems

DARPA issues presolicitation notice for satellite recycling project

By William Welsh
Mar 05, 2013

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has issued a presolicitation notice for a program that would develop and demonstrate robotic technologies to harvest and re-use components of non-operational satellites in geostationary orbit.

A notice posted March 4 on the FedBizOpps website states that the presolicitation follows a Proposers' Day for the Phoenix Program that was held Feb. 8 at the DARPA Conference Center in Arlington, Va.

The Phoenix Program would entail the recycling of valuable components from retired, cooperative, non-operating satellites in order to re-use the components so that they ultimately can be used to help reduce the cost of creating new military space systems, according to the notice.

The robotic technology envisioned would be capable of removing apertures and antennas from de-commissioned satellites in the graveyard or disposal orbit.

Responses are due by 12 Noon, Eastern Standard Time, April 19.

About the Author

William Welsh is the managing editor of Defense Systems. Follow him on Twitter: @WilliamWelsh12.

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