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Intelsat has completed the satellite life-extension mission and made space history.
Takeaway Points
- Intelsat has completed the Satellite Life-Extension Mission.
- The Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) added five years of reliable service and global connectivity to the Intelsat 901.
- The world’s first MEV was developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Space Logistics LLC.
Satellite Life-Extension Mission
Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, on Wednesday said that it has become the first and only satellite operator to complete a satellite life-extension mission. The Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) added five years of reliable service and global connectivity to the Intelsat 901 (IS-901) satellite and its customers.
Jean-Luc Froeliger, SVP of Space Systems, Intelsat, commented, “The MEV mission proved that in-orbit servicing enhances satellite sustainability and efficiency in space. We were able to provide five additional years of reliable service to our Network, Media and Mobility customers and paved the way for future advancements in satellite servicing.”
Froeliger added, “Using the MEV to extend the life of IS-901 was a great commercial success for our customers, as well as a historic technical achievement. We had to do a rendezvous and approach of two spacecraft moving at 3km per second.”
The Satellite
Intelsat explained that the world’s first MEV was developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Space Logistics LLC and was successfully detached from IS-901 after moving the satellite to the graveyard orbit, where the satellite will be decommissioned after nearly 24 years of service.
The MEV first docked with IS-901 in February of 2020, about 19 years after the satellite was first launched, the firm added.
The MEV has its own propellant and thrusters that operate independently of the satellite. Through in-orbit docking, the MEV enables Intelsat to extend the life of a satellite by several years when the original propellant of that satellite has been depleted.
Partnership
Intelsat said it has partnered with Northrop Grumman on a second mission in 2021, using MEV-2 to extend the life of Intelsat 10-02, a combination that remains operational today. Intelsat continues to find and invest in next-generation satellite life-extension projects and other innovations, setting the stage for continued advancements and enabling emerging space companies to shape the future of the industry.
About Intelsat
Intelsat’s global team of professionals is focused on providing seamless and secure satellite-based communications to government, NGO, and commercial customers through the company’s next-generation worldwide network and managed services. Bridging the digital divide by operating one of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleets and connectivity infrastructures, Intelsat enables people and their tools to speak over oceans, see across continents, and listen through the skies to communicate, cooperate, and coexist.
Since its founding six decades ago, the company has been synonymous with satellite-industry “firsts” in service to its customers and the planet. Leaning on a legacy of innovation and focusing on addressing a new generation of challenges, Intelsat team members now have their sights on the “next firsts” in space as they disrupt the field and lead in the digital transformation of the industry.
