SpaceLogistics Secures 3 Orders For New Robotic Maintenance & Boosting Spacecraft Set To Launch 2025

SpaceLogistics have secured three orders for there Mission Extension Pods (MEPs); a cutting-edge pod spacecraft providing boosts to geostationary satellites, set to launch on its first mission in 2025.

Optus, the Australian communications satellite operator was the first to place an order for an MEP. In April, Intelsat, a leading global satellite operator, announced its secured one of these pods; and now they have confirmed they have secured the third and final pod available for the debut mission.

The Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), will transport SpaceLogistics' new servicing spacecraft, MEPs into orbit and carry out the satellite-servicing missions. The MRV has been equipped with two robotic arms developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, thanks to funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). In 2020, DARPA entered into an agreement with Northrop Grumman, granting them access to the robotic payloads on the MRV in exchange for technology demonstrations and program data.

The robotic arms play a critical role in the servicing operations, as they will install the MEPs onto the communications satellites of Optus and Intelsat that are positioned in geosynchronous Earth orbit. This groundbreaking technology ensures that the satellites receive the necessary boost to their operational life, offering extended service to their respective operators.

The MRV serves as the successor to SpaceLogistics' current Mission Extension Vehicles (MEVs), which are presently docked with two Intelsat spacecraft, providing valuable life-extension services.

This successful track record, coupled with the latest order from Intelsat for an MEP, highlights the increasing demand for SpaceLogistics' satellite-servicing capabilities.

While initially projected for a 2024 launch, SpaceLogistics announced that the MRV's launch will now take place in 2025. Both the MRV and MEPs have successfully completed their critical design reviews and are progressing steadily towards their planned launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.