Space Logistics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Corporation, has been selected by the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as the commercial partner for its Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) programme, which will feature the first-ever commercial robotic servicing spacecraft (www.northropgrumman.com).

The programme objectives include in-orbit satellite assembly, repair, augmentation, inspection and relocation.

Under the agreement, DARPA will provide the robotics payload for the Space Logistics Mission Robotic Vehicle.

This payload — dev-eloped by the US Naval Research Laboratory — consists of two robotic manipulator arms, along with several tools and sensors.

Tom Wilson, president of Space Logistics, said: “Our selection as DARPA’s commercial partner expands our leadership in space logistics.

"The new robotics technology on this mission advances our vision to build a fleet of satellite-servicing vehicles that give customers a variety of options to select the type of life extension or in-orbit repairs they need.”

In addition to the Mission Robotic Vehicle for Space Logistics, Northrop Grumman is developing more life-extension services; these include Mission Extension Pods that augment the propulsion system of ageing satellites and provide a six-year life extension.