Intelsat extends satellite daily life extension contracts
TAMPA, Fla. — Intelsat has signed a offer to use the MEV-2 servicer at present docked with its 10-02 satellite to lengthen the ageing spacecraft’s everyday living by 4 a lot more yrs to 2030.
Nothrop Grumman’s MEV-2 (Mission Extension Car or truck) has been fueling the 20-year-aged spacecraft considering the fact that turning out to be the initial servicer to dock with an in-assistance geosynchronous industrial satellite in 2021.
Geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) satellites are typically intended to past 15-20 decades ahead of jogging low on gasoline.
The 10-02 satellite has presented broadcast and broadband providers for customers across Europe, the Center East, Africa and South The usa given that 2004. It is part of a joint venture with Norway’s Telenor Satellite, supporting their distribution of far more than 900 channels to practically 18 million households throughout Europe.
Intelsat’s agreement with Nothrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics subsidiary for the satellite was originally only for 5 several years.
Intelsat also declared May 23 that it has prolonged its contract for MEV-1, which in 2020 docked with IS-901 in GEO graveyard orbit a few hundred kilometers earlier mentioned energetic satellites and decreased the spacecraft back again into company.
Intelsat-901 was launched in 2001 and supplies broadcast and broadband companies in excess of North and South The usa, Africa and Europe.
MEV-1 will use its onboard propulsion to relocate and release IS-901 back into GEO graveyard just after their primary five-yr servicing period ends in 2025, the satellite operator claimed.
Intelsat stated it has not nevertheless identified the location and timeline of its subsequent extension mission with MEV-1, and is nonetheless finalizing the specific timing for the new agreement.
An Intelsat spokesperson claimed Area Logistics has a window to use MEV-1 for other missions ahead of returning to satisfy Intelsat’s reservation.
Propulsion difficulties
Both MEVs have been built to have a layout lifestyle of 15 a long time for carrying out a number of servicing missions.
On the other hand, a number of sources have told SpaceNews that they and two other spacecraft are working with minimized electricity to their thrusters, subsequent a problem with onboard Electrical power Processing Units (PPUs) that will have some affect on their design lifestyle.
Northrop Grumman has declined to comment.
In 2025, SpaceX is slated to start a new servicing spacecraft from SpaceLogistics called Mission Robotic Car (MRV), which would be outfitted with a robotic arm for putting in propulsion “jetpacks” made to increase six a long time of lifestyle to a GEO satellite.
Three of these Mission Extension Pods (MEPs) are thanks to experience with the MRV on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upcoming 12 months. Intelsat has purchased two, and Australia’s Optus has purchased the 3rd for missions established to commence in 2026.
Intelsat has not disclosed which satellites would be receiving a 400-kilogram MEP.
SpaceLogistics expects to install as many as 30 of the gasoline pods about the 3,000-kilogram MRV’s 10-calendar year operational lifestyle.
The enterprise has not released economical facts but claims putting in MEPs with a robotic servicer would be cheaper and far more successful than attaching minivan-sized MEVs to satellites. MEV-1 and MEV-2 experienced a launch mass of 2,330 kilograms and 2,875 kilograms, respectively.
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TAMPA, Fla. — Intelsat has signed a offer to use the MEV-2 servicer at present docked with its 10-02 satellite to lengthen the ageing spacecraft’s everyday living by 4 a lot more yrs to 2030.
Nothrop Grumman’s MEV-2 (Mission Extension Car or truck) has been fueling the 20-year-aged spacecraft considering the fact that turning out to be the initial servicer to dock with an in-assistance geosynchronous industrial satellite in 2021.
Geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) satellites are typically intended to past 15-20 decades ahead of jogging low on gasoline.
The 10-02 satellite has presented broadcast and broadband providers for customers across Europe, the Center East, Africa and South The usa given that 2004. It is part of a joint venture with Norway’s Telenor Satellite, supporting their distribution of far more than 900 channels to practically 18 million households throughout Europe.
Intelsat’s agreement with Nothrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics subsidiary for the satellite was originally only for 5 several years.
Intelsat also declared May 23 that it has prolonged its contract for MEV-1, which in 2020 docked with IS-901 in GEO graveyard orbit a few hundred kilometers earlier mentioned energetic satellites and decreased the spacecraft back again into company.
Intelsat-901 was launched in 2001 and supplies broadcast and broadband companies in excess of North and South The usa, Africa and Europe.
MEV-1 will use its onboard propulsion to relocate and release IS-901 back into GEO graveyard just after their primary five-yr servicing period ends in 2025, the satellite operator claimed.
Intelsat stated it has not nevertheless identified the location and timeline of its subsequent extension mission with MEV-1, and is nonetheless finalizing the specific timing for the new agreement.
An Intelsat spokesperson claimed Area Logistics has a window to use MEV-1 for other missions ahead of returning to satisfy Intelsat’s reservation.
Propulsion difficulties
Both MEVs have been built to have a layout lifestyle of 15 a long time for carrying out a number of servicing missions.
On the other hand, a number of sources have told SpaceNews that they and two other spacecraft are working with minimized electricity to their thrusters, subsequent a problem with onboard Electrical power Processing Units (PPUs) that will have some affect on their design lifestyle.
Northrop Grumman has declined to comment.
In 2025, SpaceX is slated to start a new servicing spacecraft from SpaceLogistics called Mission Robotic Car (MRV), which would be outfitted with a robotic arm for putting in propulsion “jetpacks” made to increase six a long time of lifestyle to a GEO satellite.
Three of these Mission Extension Pods (MEPs) are thanks to experience with the MRV on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upcoming 12 months. Intelsat has purchased two, and Australia’s Optus has purchased the 3rd for missions established to commence in 2026.
Intelsat has not disclosed which satellites would be receiving a 400-kilogram MEP.
SpaceLogistics expects to install as many as 30 of the gasoline pods about the 3,000-kilogram MRV’s 10-calendar year operational lifestyle.
The enterprise has not released economical facts but claims putting in MEPs with a robotic servicer would be cheaper and far more successful than attaching minivan-sized MEVs to satellites. MEV-1 and MEV-2 experienced a launch mass of 2,330 kilograms and 2,875 kilograms, respectively.
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