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Northrop robotic spacecraft aims to extend satellite lifespans
A Northrop Grumman Mission Extension Vehicle has detached from an Optus satellite after more than a year of service, paving the way for a new robotic mechanic to attach a fresh thruster in 2027.
High above Earth, a satellite life-extension vehicle has parted ways with the communications satellite it has been supporting since last year. The spacecraft, built and operated by Northrop Grumman, separated from the Optus satellite this week after keeping it in its correct orbital position for more than a year.
The departure makes room for a new generation of satellite-servicing hardware. In July, four Northrop spacecraft were launched into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket: one Mission Robotic Vehicle, or MRV, and three Mission Extension Pods, or MEPs.
The MRV is a larger spacecraft equipped with two advanced robotic arms, developed with support from DARPA, the U.S. military research agency. The three MEPs are smaller, modular propulsion units designed to attach to existing satellites and provide them with fresh thrust.
All four spacecraft are currently heading toward targets approximately 27,000 miles above Earth. In 2027, the MRV is expected to use its robotic arms to attach one of the MEP pods to the Optus satellite, which should keep it in orbit for years to come.