Intelsat extends satellite tv for pc life extension contracts

TAMPA, Fla. — Intelsat has signed a deal to make use of the MEV-2 servicer at the moment docked with its 10-02 satellite tv for pc to increase the getting older spacecraft’s life by 4 extra years to 2030.

Nothrop Grumman’s MEV-2 (Mission Extension Automobile) has been fueling the 20-year-old spacecraft since turning into the primary servicer to dock with an in-service geosynchronous business satellite tv for pc in 2021.

Geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) satellites are usually designed to final 15-20 years earlier than operating low on gas.

The ten-02 satellite tv for pc has offered broadcast and broadband providers for patrons throughout Europe, the Center East, Africa and South America since 2004. It’s a part of a three way partnership with Norway’s Telenor Satellite tv for pc, supporting their distribution of greater than 900 channels to just about 18 million households throughout Europe.

Intelsat’s contract with Nothrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics subsidiary for the satellite tv for pc was initially just for 5 years.

Intelsat additionally introduced Might 23 that it has prolonged its contract for MEV-1, which in 2020 docked with IS-901 in GEO graveyard orbit a couple of hundred kilometers above lively satellites and lowered the spacecraft again into service.

Intelsat-901 was launched in 2001 and offers broadcast and broadband providers over North and South America, Africa and Europe.

MEV-1 will use its onboard propulsion to relocate and launch IS-901 again into GEO graveyard after their unique five-year servicing interval ends in 2025, the satellite tv for pc operator mentioned. 

Intelsat mentioned it has not but decided the placement and timeline of its subsequent extension mission with MEV-1, and remains to be finalizing the precise timing for the brand new contract.

An Intelsat spokesperson mentioned House Logistics has a window to make use of MEV-1 for different missions earlier than returning to meet Intelsat’s reservation. 

Propulsion issues

Each MEVs have been designed to have a design lifetime of 15 years for performing a number of servicing missions.

Nonetheless, a number of sources have informed SpaceNews that they and two different spacecraft are working with diminished energy to their thrusters, following an issue with onboard Energy Processing Models (PPUs) that can have some impression on their design life.

Northrop Grumman has declined to remark.

In 2025, SpaceX is slated to launch a brand new servicing spacecraft from SpaceLogistics referred to as Mission Robotic Automobile (MRV), which might be geared up with a robotic arm for putting in propulsion “jetpacks” designed so as to add six years of life to a GEO satellite tv for pc.

Three of those Mission Extension Pods (MEPs) are as a consequence of trip with the MRV on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket subsequent yr. Intelsat has ordered two, and Australia’s Optus has ordered the third for missions set to start in 2026.

Intelsat has not disclosed which satellites could be getting a 400-kilogram MEP.

SpaceLogistics expects to put in as many as 30 of the gas pods over the three,000-kilogram MRV’s 10-year operational life. 

The corporate has not launched monetary particulars however says putting in MEPs with a robotic servicer could be cheaper and extra environment friendly than attaching minivan-sized MEVs to satellites. MEV-1 and MEV-2 had a launch mass of two,330 kilograms and a pair of,875 kilograms, respectively.

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