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Northrop Grumman Achieves First-Ever Undocking Between Two Commercial Spacecraft in Geosynchronous Orbit
April 14, 2025 | Northrop GrummanEstimated reading time: 1 minute
A Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Space Logistics LLC has successfully undocked with Intelsat’s IS-901 satellite, completing its life extension service. This marks 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.
- Now that life-extension services are complete, MEV-1 released the IS-901 satellite back into the GEO graveyard and is relocating to the next servicing mission.
- Northrop Grumman’s Space Logistics has provided reliable service to the satellite operator for MEV-1’s entire mission. MEV-2 will remain docked to Intelsat 10-02, providing life-extension for an additional four years – nearly doubling service from the original extension contract.
Expert:
Rob Hauge, president, Space Logistics: “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.”
Details:
Northrop Grumman is currently the only proven provider of life-extension services for satellites in GEO – redefining the boundaries of resiliency, flexibility and capabilities across government, commercial and national security customers.
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, which dock with customers’ existing satellites to provide propulsion and attitude control needed to extend satellite service lives. Starting next year, Space Logistics next-generation systems will be able to provide expanded satellite services including on-orbit repairs, upgrades, refueling, debris removal, assembly and manufacturing.
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