DIY Space: Operate a Very Expensive Backhoe

I worked with some plumbing fellows this last year to remove some huge amounts of dirt to get at our very clogged up house waste line. One of the pieces of equipment we used to remove the dirt was a very small, but effective, backhoe. They let me help them with the backhoe occasionally (when I […]

Dextre: When Humans Just Won’t Do

It might come as a surprise to some people that Canada has a space agency–the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Some Americans might view our northern neighbor’s agency as a NASA-Lite, but that would be very untrue. It might be even more surprising for people to know the CSA is very active and has provided some critical […]

Astronaut Pay

Sure, some of us say we’d work in space for free. We’re pretty nerdy that way. I’m pretty sure, then, for these astronauts, that getting paid to do something they love, is icing on the cake. I’m assuming astronauts love their job. There’s a lot of work and commitment involved to become an astronaut, though, so […]

Fill it up, RROxITT! And check the solar panels, too.

For a very long time, satellites orbiting the Earth have had a very finite lifetime. Some satellites have lasted over ten years, and aside from anomalies and failing components, a satellite’s fuel tank has been key to how long a satellite can function. But that might change soon for geosynchronous (GEO) satellites, thanks to RROxITT (Remote Robotic […]