Northrop Grumman Corporation’s SpaceLogistics LLC has announced a four-year extension of its on-orbit life-extension services for satellite operator Intelsat. This extension further cements their collaboration in enhancing satellite longevity and space sustainability.
Under the new agreement, at the end of the current servicing period, MEV-1 will relocate and release the Intelsat 901 (IS-901) satellite into the Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) graveyard. It will then provide service for another Intelsat satellite. Meanwhile, MEV-2 will remain docked to Intelsat’s current vehicle, Intelsat 10-02 (IS-10-02), extending its life by an additional four years—nearly doubling the service period from the original contract.
“As technology pioneers for the in-space servicing industry, our two MEVs have provided a combined seven years of life extension to increase our customer’s satellite lifetime and support our joint commitment to making space sustainable,” said Rob Hauge, President of SpaceLogistics.
Northrop Grumman has consistently demonstrated its commitment to space sustainability, beginning with MEV-1’s historic first-ever in-orbit commercial spacecraft docking with IS-901. In 2021, the company achieved another milestone when MEV-2 docked with IS-10-02 while the satellite was in operation, with no reported disruption in service during the docking. Originally contracted for five years, the service periods for both MEVs have now been extended, further prolonging the operational lifespans of several commercial GEO satellites by four years.
Northrop Grumman remains the sole provider of life-extension services for satellites in GEO. These MEVs enable legacy satellites to operate longer, thereby generating more revenue for their operators.
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