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[ Tech sounds ]

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[ Music ]

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>>BEN:  We are developing the technology to be able to go to

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a satellite, and have a robot refuel it. The ability

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to refuel, repair, and relocate

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satellites in orbit can be applied to

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scientific missions that are looking out at stars; it can be

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applied to weather satellites that save thousands of lives a year and

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billions of dollars in predicting storms; to communication;

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search and rescue; to the International Space Station, helping astronauts

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explore our solar system. >>MARION: Those satellites, their

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life is limited by the amount of fuel they have. So if we can

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bring fuel to them, we can have their lives extended.

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>>MATT: So this test is the technology development test, and what we're doing here is

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proving and maturing technologies required for satellite servicing.

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>>ALEX: So there are several things new and unique about this test itself. The first

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was that I was controlling the robot remotely from Greenbelt, Maryland while the robot was

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located down at Kennedy Space Center. The second was this was the first time

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we were actually transferring a hazardous fluid. The Robotic Refueling Mission

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on the Space Station transferred ethanol, which isn't a hazardous fluid and it's

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not actually a component of satellite fuel. >>BEN: On the International

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Space Station, we wanted to be sure to be safe around the astronauts.

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>>MATT: Here, what we're doing now is using actual spacecraft propellant.

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>>BRIAN: It's a very dangerous fluid, very deadly fluid. That's why

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we'll be in personal protective equipment, these full-assembly

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SCAPE suits, and that protects the people in the suit from any sort of

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exposure. ...

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>>ALEX: So on the day of the test, I used the tool on the robot to attach to a satellite

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fill drain valve, where we then transferred fluid through the tool

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and into the satellite valve, simulating a refueling task.

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>>MATT: So as a tool designer, during the test, we need to make sure the tool is operating as we expect.

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So we sit right next to the robot operators, as they're driving the robot,

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we're looking at video, we're looking at telemetry, making sure that the tool is behaving

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as expected. >>ALEX: Operating the robotic arm remotely feels,

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it actually kinda feels a lot like a video game, because I'll have two joy-sticks in front of me that I'll be using

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to control the robot. And while it's moving very slowly, I'm looking at tool cameras in front of

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me, that show the end of the robot itself.

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>>MARION: Kennedy was commissioned to design and build the propellant transfer

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assembly, because they have such expertise in propellants.

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We, here at Goddard, have expertise in robotics. >>BRIAN: We have a great

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relationship with Goddard and a great team here at KSC and up at Goddard

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working on the development of these new technologies.

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[ Cheering ] >>BEN: The testing went nominal,

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we couldn't be more pleased. But that doesn't mean we're done, not by a long shot.

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>>MATT: We're going to take the lessons learned from here, integrate them into new

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technologies, and do a complete end-to-end refueling test.

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>>BEN: I feel just great, so satisfied

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knowing that the capabilities that we are helping to develop

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are going to be able to be applied to so many meaningful

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missions that NASA works on.

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