A Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) developed by
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Space Logistics LLC has successfully undocked with Intelsat’s IS-901 satellite, marking the first undocking between two commercial spacecraft in the ‘geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) graveyard’. MEV-1 has provided five years of life-extension services to IS-901, allowing Intelsat to operate this space-based asset beyond its design life.
In 2020, MEV-1 successfully proved docking with IS-901 was possible in the GEO graveyard orbit and brought IS-901 back into operation in GEO; and with the life-extension services complete, MEV-1 released the IS-901 satellite back into the GEO graveyard and is relocating to its next servicing mission.
Rob Hauge, Space Logistics’ president, said: “The first-of-its kind technology that extended a satellite’s life is paving the way for an entire infrastructure of future on-orbit satellite servicing missions for a variety of customers. We are continuing to invest in next-generation capabilities to deliver the most technologically advanced servicing capabilities to support and maintain new and existing space-based assets.”
MEV-1 performed the first-ever in-orbit commercial spacecraft docking with IS-901 in the graveyard orbit before reducing the satellite’s inclination and bringing it back into operation in GEO in 2020. Since the technology was successfully proven in graveyard orbit with MEV-1, MEV-2 docked with Intelsat’s IS-10-02 directly in GEO in 2021, with no reported disruption in service during the docking.
Northrop Grumman’s Space Logistics provides in-orbit satellite servicing to GEO satellite operators, using its MEVs to dock with customers’ existing satellites and provide the propulsion and attitude control needed to extend satellite service lives. Space Logistics said that starting next year, its next-generation systems will be able to provide expanded satellite services, including on-orbit repairs, upgrades, refuelling, debris removal, assembly, and manufacturing.