Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) SpaceLogistics has sold its third Mission Extension Pod (MEP), a propulsion “jet pack” that extends the life of legacy satellites, allowing them to operate longer and more profitably.
Under a purchase agreement with Intelsat, SpaceLogistics’ Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), a servicing spacecraft equipped with robotic arms, will install the jet pack on an Intelsat communications satellite in GEO to extend its life by at least six years. This capability builds on a long-standing relationship between SpaceLogistics and Intelsat that includes the world’s only commercial satellite-servicing missions in GEO.
Both MRV and MEP have completed their critical design reviews and are proceeding through build, integration and testing ahead of a planned launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 in early 2025. Once on-orbit, the MRV will provide a persistent, robotic servicing capability in GEO that paves the way for missions that include satellite inspection, relocation and repair. By attaching specialty tools to the ends of its robotic arms, the MRV will be able to adapt to emerging mission needs.
“SpaceLogistics is building upon our proven in-space servicing capabilities to offer revenue continuity, enhanced resiliency and sustained maneuver for commercial and government satellite operators with our MEPs. This sale completes the launch manifest for our first tranche of MEPs and underscores the demand for our services. SpaceLogistics will continue to deliver future MEPs to extend the life of client satellites while making space sustainable for all.” — Rob Hauge, President, SpaceLogistics
“Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics continues to develop key technologies as demand grows for in-space servicing for future missions and architectures across commercial, civil and national security space. Our space-servicing system helps satellite operators activate new markets, drive asset value and protect their franchises.” — Rob Fleming, Vice President and General Manager, Strategic Space Systems, Northrop Grumman
SpaceLogistics is a global leader in the development and deployment of on-orbit satellite servicing systems and the first and only company performing on-orbit servicing for geosynchronous satellites. The planned fleet of service vehicles will extend operational life, upgrade capabilities and enable future missions for a variety of customers.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 95,000 employees define possible every day.
