[ tech sounds ]
Hi, my name is Alex Janas. I'm a robotic operator here at the
Servicing Technology Center. [ music ] So the test I want
to talk to you guys about today is called RROxiTT, and this is a
remote fluid transfer test, which is going to be performed by taking this robot and sending it
down to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. And myself, I'm going to be the operator
right here at NASA Goddard. Some of the challenging aspects of this task
include this valve. This is a standard satellite valve that they use for filling a satellite with fuel
on the ground, and then it's sealed up and never meant to be opened again in space.
My job is going to be to fly up, align to, and access this servicing valve.
So if you can imagine, this would be a servicing arm in space;
this tool would be our tool; and this would access a satellite that's already in space.
Another hard aspect about this test is that I'm going to be commanding this robot from
here at NASA Goddard. So now I'm commanding it and I'm telling the robot to go forward,
up, down, left, right, and align it; there's going to be a time delay from when I send the robot a
command and when the robot actually receives the command itself. So the fluid that we're
going to be using during this test is called NTO, and it's one of two fluids that are combined
in a spacecraft in order to create an explosion to propel a spacecraft forward in space.
Now this is very corrosive, dangerous fluid, so when we're performing the test down in Florida,
any humans within several hundred feet of the work site actually have to be wearing
huge, big safety protective gear. This test is all part of a greater effort
to continue maturing and advancing the technology needed to repair and refuel
satellites in space so that they'll last longer. So tune in
in early 2014 to watch me drive this robot and perform the actual refueling test.
[ Beep beep... beep beep... ]