Orbital ATK Receives Order for Second In-Orbit Satellite Servicing Vehicle
January 04 2018 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Intelsat Commits to Second Life Extension
Mission
Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, today announced it has been awarded a contract for a
second Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-2). The vehicle was ordered
by Intelsat S.A. to provide life extension services for an Intelsat
satellite. Orbital ATK is now producing MEV-1, the industry’s first
commercial in-space satellite servicing system, for Intelsat with
launch scheduled for late 2018. Under this new agreement, Orbital
ATK will manufacture, test and launch MEV-2 and begin mission
extension services in mid-2020. The production of the second MEV is
part of Orbital ATK’s longer-range plan to establish a fleet of
in-orbit servicing vehicles that can address diverse space
logistics needs including repair, assembly, refueling and in-space
transportation.
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“Work on MEV-1 is progressing rapidly toward a late 2018 launch
with system-level testing beginning this spring,” said Tom Wilson,
President of Orbital ATK’s Space Logistics, LLC subsidiary. “With
the launch of MEV-2, Orbital ATK will continue to pioneer in-space
satellite servicing for commercial operators. Intelsat’s commitment
to a second MEV demonstrates not only the market demand for our
servicing vehicles, but also the customer’s confidence in our
product.”
Through its Space Logistics subsidiary, Orbital ATK will
introduce in-orbit commercial satellite servicing with MEV-1 late
this year. The MEV is based on the company’s GEOStarTM spacecraft
platform, and controlled by the company’s satellite operations
team. The MEV uses a reliable, low-risk docking system that
attaches to existing features on a customer’s satellite, and
provides life-extending services by taking over the orbit
maintenance and attitude control functions of the client’s
spacecraft. Each MEV vehicle has a 15-year design life with the
ability to perform numerous dockings and repositionings during its
life span.
“Intelsat was an early proponent of the potential for mission
extension technology,” said Ken Lee, Intelsat’s Senior Vice
President, Space Systems. “In-orbit life extension, such as that
provided by our two contracts with Orbital ATK, provides additional
flexibility to our fleet management, allowing us to direct capital
to new satellites while continuing to generate economic value from
satellites in orbit. We look forward to our continued collaboration
with Orbital ATK on commercializing this important new
service.”
The work performed on MEV-2 will span multiple locations across
the company. Orbital ATK’s spacecraft components division will be
responsible for manufacturing the structures, propellant tanks and
solar arrays at the company’s locations in San Diego and Goleta,
California. The Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD)
laboratory, located at the company’s headquarters in Dulles,
Virginia, will test the sensors, actuators and control algorithms
that allow the MEV to approach and dock with the client
spacecraft.
Orbital ATK plans to expand its satellite servicing capabilities
to address additional in-orbit needs of customers. The company is
investing significant internal capital and, through a NASA Space
Act Agreement, working with U.S. government agencies to develop and
implement new capabilities for the MEV fleet. These include
next-generation life extension and repair vehicles, in-orbit
assembly of large space structures and cargo delivery and related
services to deep space gateways, such as in lunar orbit.
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 13,500 people across the U.S. and in several
international locations. For more information, visit
www.orbitalatk.com.
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Orbital ATKMedia Contact:Vicki Cox, 703-406-5663Group
Lead Public RelationsVicki.Cox@OrbitalATK.comorInvestor
Contact:Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528Public and Investor
Relationsbarron.beneski@orbitalatk.com
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