Intelsat to Extend Life of Additional Satellites with Mission Extension Vehicles
23 May 2024 - 11:30PM
Business Wire
Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated
satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of inflight
connectivity (IFC), will deliver years of additional reliable
broadband, video distribution and mobile satellite service to
customers across three continents thanks to the success of Northrop
Grumman’s innovative Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) that will
ultimately provide an expected additional nine years of life to the
Intelsat 10-02 (IS-10-02) geosynchronous satellite.
Geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) satellites have an average
lifespan of about 15-20 years before they start running low on
fuel. Intelsat in 2020 became the first satellite operator to
commit to deploying two of Northrop Grumman’s MEVs to extend the
life of an otherwise healthy satellite. Both MEVs have been
successful at their mission and have allowed IS-10-02 and Intelsat
901 (IS-901) to provide five years of service beyond the expected
lifespan of the satellite. Under amendments to the original
agreements with Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics LLC, both MEVs
will stay in space serving Intelsat satellites for several more
years, allowing them to operate longer.
- At the end of the current servicing period, MEV-1 will release
the IS-901 satellite into the GEO graveyard and then provide
service for another Intelsat satellite.
- MEV-2 will remain docked to Intelsat’s current vehicle,
IS-10-02, providing life-extension for several years – nearly
doubling service from the original contract. The IS-10-02 satellite
was manufactured by Airbus Defense & Space, was launched in
June 2004 and entered service in August 2004. Capacity on the
satellite is shared with Telenor Satellite. Today, MEV-2 is helping
to extend the life of IS-10-02, so the satellite can continue
providing high-quality media distribution and broadband services to
our customers across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South
America. IS-10-02 is a key satellite in the Intelsat-Telenor
Satellite video neighborhood, distributing more than 900 channels
to nearly 18 million television households across Europe.
“As the largest satellite operator in geosynchronous orbit,
Intelsat has always been committed to continuous reliable service,
as well as leadership in furthering sustainable space operations,”
said Jean-Luc Froeliger, SVP Space Systems at Intelsat. “Intelsat
continues to pursue first-of-their-kind innovations to extend the
life of its satellites in orbit, while also bringing the industry
together to foster information sharing and collaboration across a
challenging regulatory environment to achieve sustainable
stewardship of the resource of space.”
“This extension is excellent news for our many clients across
Europe and the Middle East who are served by THOR 10-02,” said
Morten Tengs, CEO of Telenor Satellite. “We pride ourselves on the
resilience of our service and, by extending the life of the
satellite, we can ensure continuity and hassle-free operations for
a number of years.”
MEV Background
In 2020, MEV-1 successfully docked with the IS-901 satellite, a
high-performing satellite that was running low on fuel. That marked
the first time that two commercial spacecraft docked and began
mission-extension service in GEO. The in-space maneuver pointed
IS-901 to targeted antennas on Earth and extended its life for
another five years of its lifespan.
In 2021, the feat was repeated with a second MEV-2 docking with
the IS-10-02 satellite. Unlike the first docking, which was
performed in a graveyard orbit a few hundred kilometers above
active satellites, this time the MEV-2 docked with IS-10-02 in its
original orbital slot and avoided any interruption of services to
customers, resulting in the first-ever in-orbit servicing of a live
commercial satellite in GEO.
About Intelsat
Intelsat’s global team of professionals is focused on providing
seamless and secure, satellite-based communications to government,
NGO and commercial customers through the company’s next-generation
worldwide network and managed services. Bridging the digital divide
by operating one of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite
fleet and connectivity infrastructures, Intelsat enables people and
their tools to speak over oceans, see across continents and listen
through the skies to communicate, cooperate and coexist. Since its
founding six decades ago, the company has been synonymous with
satellite-industry “firsts” in service to its customers and the
planet. Leaning on a legacy of innovation and focusing on
addressing a new generation of challenges Intelsat team members now
have their sights on the “next firsts” in space as they disrupt the
field and lead in the digital transformation of the industry.
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Melissa Longo - melissa.longo@intelsat.com; +1 240-308-1881