Inside the Historic Mission To Service an Orbiting Satellite

Northrop Grumman subsidiary SpaceLogistics allowed FLYING rare access to the lab where engineers quietly made space history performing the first operational commercial satellite servicing mission.

Thom Patterson

Friday, May 20, 2022 at 09:22 AM ET

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An artist’s rendition of MEV-1 (left), SpaceLogistics’ history-making service spacecraft as it approaches a satellite in 2020. [Courtesy: Northrop Grumman]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceLogistics, a Northrop Grumman subsidiary, has pioneered autonomous satellite servicing in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) with its Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV), capable of docking with and providing propulsion to commercial satellites.
This innovation marks a new era in space operations, enabling the extension of satellite operational life and saving millions of dollars by preventing the premature retirement of functional satellites due to fuel depletion.
The MEV's success is attributed to its complex autonomous docking software and a unique capturing probe, a "secret sauce" developed through rigorous testing and precision engineering, often compared to aviation's flight planning and control.
SpaceLogistics plans to further expand its in-orbit servicing capabilities with future vehicles like the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) for repair and debris removal, and the Mission Assembly and Repair Vehicle (MARV) for in-orbit manufacturing.

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In a nondescript building outside Washington, D.C., a team of engineers, scientists, and technicians are making history with technological breakthroughs that have taken space satellite operations to the next level.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) subsidiary SpaceLogistics allowed FLYING rare access inside the highly restricted lab where team members developed an autonomous spacecraft that can safely dock with commercial satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) to provide propulsion and pointing control.