Key facts
- A private salvage operation launched Tuesday to attach life-extending jetpacks to old satellites.
- Northrop Grumman's robotic vehicle, MRV, will attach the jetpacks.
- The mission aims to extend the operational life of communication satellites.
- This is the second satellite-saving mission to launch this month.
- Katalyst Space Technologies is also testing its Link satellite helper for NASA's Swift Observatory.
A private mission, utilizing a robotic vehicle named MRV developed by Northrop Grumman and launched by SpaceX, has begun its operation to extend the lifespan of aging communication satellites. The MRV, equipped with two robotic arms, is designed to attach electric-propelled jetpacks to satellites that are running low on fuel. These jetpacks, roughly the size of a washing machine, are intended to provide the necessary propulsion for satellites to continue operating for several more years, thereby saving satellite operators like SES and Optus millions in replacement costs.
This mission represents Northrop Grumman's continued involvement in the satellite servicing sector, building on previous successes in 2019 and 2020 where their spacecraft latched onto and steered faltering satellites. The company envisions future iterations of its robotic helpers capable of repairing, relocating, and even removing dead satellites from orbit. They are collaborating with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on these advancements.
In parallel, Katalyst Space Technologies is testing its Link satellite helper in orbit before it assists NASA's Swift Observatory. After initial communication and pointing challenges were addressed with software patches, the Link is expected to boost the Swift telescope, which launched in 2004 and has been affected by increased solar activity. NASA is paying Katalyst $30 million to raise the Swift observatory to its original altitude, potentially giving the gamma-ray observatory many more years of scientific study.