Arrangements for a commercial mission have been signed by Infinite Orbits and SES. Together their contract will provide a first for Europe with a geostationary satellite life extension mission.
Following an in-orbit demonstration, Infinite Orbits will extend the lifespan of at least one of SES’s GEO satellites by five years, with further missions under consideration in the years ahead. This will make Infinite Orbits the first European company to carry out such a mission, and only the second in the world. This collaboration with the world’s biggest GEO satellite operator, Infinite Orbits further strengthens its position as a key partner for GEO in-orbit services.
The commercial mission will be carried out by Endurance™, a docking satellite designed for competitive life extension missions. Endurance™ is expected to be launched in 2027, and is scheduled for docking with one SES satellite following an in-orbit demonstration.
Supported from its early stage by the European Commission though the European Innovation Council (EIC), this first commercial mission is now possible thanks to the cofunding of the French governmental program France 2030.
What these in-orbit services provide are concrete solutions to satellite operators seeking ways to better manage and renew their fleets. Building on its tailored-to-market offering, Infinite Orbits meets the market’s demands for cost-effective and robust technological performance, and is expanding its collaboration with SES in Europe’s first commercial life extension mission.
Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, said, “Extending the operational life of our GEO satellites is important for delivering continued value to customers and optimizing satellite economics. At the same time, we remain committed to advancing space sustainability through innovative approaches. We are excited to collaborate with Infinite Orbits to enable responsible use of space while ensuring long-term service continuity.”
Endurance™ is compatible with more than 70% of current end-of-life geostationary satellites by leveraging a patented Infinite Orbits’ autonomous vision-based navigation technology allowing assets in space to approach and dock to one another. This life-extension vehicle has been designed to offer Infinite Orbits’ clients a new generation of in-orbit services, including station keeping, pointing management, orbital relocation and end-of-life disposal. Its launch is currently planned for late 2027, and is expected to dock with one SES satellite following an in-orbit demonstration.
Adel Haddoud, CEO of Infinite Orbits points out, “We started Infinite Orbits with a focused goal to master a set of technologies allowing for competitive in-orbit services. To change the way we use space, in-orbit services must not only be safe, but they must also be compatible with our customers’ needs. We firmly believe that this is essential if we are to offer operators new opportunities to optimize their assets and promote a more sustainable approach to space.”
