Northrop Grumman’s MEV-1 Spacecraft Successfully Docks With Intelsat IS-901 Satellite to Give it Five More Years of Service Written 20 April 2020
Northrop Grumman’s Mission Extension Vehicle, or MEV. | Credit: Northrop Grumman; NASA
CNBC reported that “Intelsat’s IS-901 satellite is nearly 20 years old, and well beyond its expected lifespan, but a small spacecraft built by Northrop Grumman succeeded in docking with the satellite and giving it another five years of service, the companies announced on Friday.” The “feat is a space industry first, as extending the life of spacecraft already in orbit has only been done with human help before.” Northrop Grumman’s MEV-1 spacecraft “traveled out to the satellite, matched its orbit and then successfully docked with IS-901” on February 25.
Full Story (CNBC)