Northrop Grumman says six customers have bought missions using its upgraded orbital repair robot
Capitalism in space:A Northrop Grumman official has revealed that it already has six customers willing to buy missions using its upgraded orbital repair robot to fix orbiting satellites that are presently defunct due to lack of fuel.
Unlike the company’s first robotic repair satellites, dubbed Mission Extension Vehicles (MEV), the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) for these new contracts will not dock directly to the satellite, but use a robot arm to attach an extension pod to each.
The primary commercial mission of the MRV is to install small propulsion devices known as mission extension pods. One of these units is inserted in the back of a client satellite propulsion system, adding six years of life to most geostationary satellites, he said.
The six customers have signed term sheets for seven mission extension pods, Anderson said. Once contracts are firmed up the company will be able to disclose their names.
The first MRV launch in 2024 will carry three pods. “With these six customers, the MRV manifest is currently filled through mid-2026,” he said. The MRV is expected to have a 10-year service life.
This MRV system is far more cost effective than the MEV, since the latter can only repair one satellite, while the former can fix several with a single launch.
Both Northrop Grumman and Astroscale (see my previous post) are demonstrating the emergence of a new cottage satellite industry, the repair of old satellites and the removal of space junk, all for profit.
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Capitalism in space:A Northrop Grumman official has revealed that it already has six customers willing to buy missions using its upgraded orbital repair robot to fix orbiting satellites that are presently defunct due to lack of fuel.
Unlike the company’s first robotic repair satellites, dubbed Mission Extension Vehicles (MEV), the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) for these new contracts will not dock directly to the satellite, but use a robot arm to attach an extension pod to each.
The primary commercial mission of the MRV is to install small propulsion devices known as mission extension pods. One of these units is inserted in the back of a client satellite propulsion system, adding six years of life to most geostationary satellites, he said.
The six customers have signed term sheets for seven mission extension pods, Anderson said. Once contracts are firmed up the company will be able to disclose their names.
The first MRV launch in 2024 will carry three pods. “With these six customers, the MRV manifest is currently filled through mid-2026,” he said. The MRV is expected to have a 10-year service life.
This MRV system is far more cost effective than the MEV, since the latter can only repair one satellite, while the former can fix several with a single launch.
Both Northrop Grumman and Astroscale (see my previous post) are demonstrating the emergence of a new cottage satellite industry, the repair of old satellites and the removal of space junk, all for profit.
In order to remain completely independent and honest in my writing, I accept no sponsorships from big space companies or any political organizations. Nor do I depend on ads.
Instead, I rely entirely on the generosity of readers to keep Behind the Black running. You can either make a one time donation for whatever amount you wish, or you sign up for a monthly subscription ranging from $2 to $15 through Paypal, or $3 to $50 through Patreon, or any amount through Zelle.
The best method to donate or subscribe is by using Zelle through your internet bank account, since it charges no fees to you or I. You will need to give my name and email address (found at the bottom of the "About" page). What you donate is what I get.
To use Patreon, go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
For PayPal click one of the following buttons:
If these electronic payment methods don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
Does it take a lot of fuel for the supply vehicle to either speed up or slow down enough to rendezvous with the satellite being serviced?
Wi𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗴𝗲𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘁, 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 🛰️ 𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻,
𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. 𝗡𝗼 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀, 𝗻𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺!
Repair Robots so humans wont have to risk doing it in Space