Orbital ATK Begins Assembly of Industry’s First Commercial In-Space Satellite Servicing System
September 11 2017 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
Company on Track to Launch Mission Extension
Vehicle-1 in Late 2018
Orbital ATK (NYSE:OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, today announced significant progress on the
industry’s first commercial in-space satellite servicing system.
The Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1) spacecraft successfully
completed its critical design review earlier this year and is now
in production with about 75% of the platform and payload components
already delivered to the company’s Satellite Manufacturing Facility
in Virginia. The spacecraft will begin system-level testing in
spring 2018 with launch planned late next year. MEV-1 will provide
satellite life extension services to its anchor customer, Intelsat
S.A., beginning in early 2019.
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Orbital ATK's MEV-1 spacecraft will
extend the lives of useful satellites and is scheduled to launch
next year. (Photo: Business Wire)
Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Space Logistics LLC, Orbital
ATK will introduce in-orbit commercial satellite servicing with
MEV-1 which is based on the company’s GEOStarTM spacecraft
platform. Controlled by the company’s satellite operations team,
the MEV-1 uses a reliable, low-risk docking system that attaches to
existing features on a customer’s satellite. The MEV-1 provides
life-extending services by taking over the orbit maintenance and
attitude control functions of the client’s spacecraft. The vehicle
has a 15-year design life with the ability to perform numerous
dockings and repositionings during its life span.
“The start of assembly of MEV-1 means that in-orbit satellite
servicing will soon become a reality,” said Tom Wilson, President
of Space Logistics. “MEV-1 will be the first spacecraft of its kind
to offer this innovative service. This is just the first step
toward introducing even more advanced space logistics capabilities
in the future.”
Work on the spacecraft spans multiple locations across the
company. Orbital ATK’s spacecraft components division is
manufacturing the structures, propellant tanks and solar arrays for
MEV-1 at locations in San Diego and Goleta, California.
Additionally, the Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking
(RPOD) laboratory located at the company’s headquarters in Dulles,
Virginia, is testing the sensors, actuators and control algorithms
which allow for the tracking, approach and docking with a client
spacecraft.
“Intelsat has a strong track record of incorporating innovative
satellite technologies into its global operations, and MEV-1 will
further those efforts,” said Ken Lee, Intelsat’s Senior Vice
President of Space Systems. “In-orbit servicing will enhance our
flexibility, responsiveness to market opportunities and provide
additional robustness to our global fleet. With Orbital ATK, we
have the right approach and a partner that fully understands the
needs of our customers.”
MEV-1 will launch as a co-passenger with the Eutelsat 5WB
satellite, also built by Orbital ATK.
Orbital ATK’s longer-range plan is to establish a fleet of
in-orbit servicing vehicles that can address diverse space
logistics needs including repair, assembly, refueling and in-space
transportation. In addition to its commercial life extension
services, the company is working closely with U.S. government
agencies to develop key technologies to support these services,
such as advanced robotics and high-power solar-electric
propulsion.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies. The company designs, builds and delivers space,
defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both
as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. Its main products
include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile
products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons,
armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space
components and services; and advanced aerospace structures.
Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK employs
approximately 13,000 people across the U.S. and in several
international locations. For more information, visit
www.orbitalatk.com.
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Media:Orbital ATKKristen Basham, 703-404-7476Group Lead
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Relationskristen.basham@orbitalatk.comorInvestors:Orbital
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