Satellite Junked Over Stupid Patent

See, this is why we need patent reform. Apparently, flying by the moon is now illegal.

Last month, SES Americom launched commercial geostationary satellite AMC-14. Unfortunately, they screwed up, and now the thing will fall to Earth within days. They could have stabilized its orbit with a lunar flyby, but apparently Boeing holds a patent on that particular maneuver.

Yes, you read that right: you need Boeing’s permission to fly by the moon. They actually took out a patent on a path.

Perhaps I should file a patent on girls checking me out. I’d make a fortune.