Author Topic: SpaceLogistics MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : GEOsat servicing  (Read 69360 times)

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #40 on: 09/11/2017 02:37 pm »
Quote
Peter B. de Selding‏ @pbdes 2h2 hours ago

75% of components of 1st @OrbitalATK satellite Mission Extension Vehicle now built; system testing in spring; on track for late 2018 launch.

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/907226437505167360

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #41 on: 09/13/2017 08:53 am »
Quote
Peter B. de Selding‏ @pbdes 4m4 minutes ago

Culbertson @OrbitalATK : We're about to sign 2d customer for Mission Extension Vehicle sat servicing program. [@Intelsat's 1st, in 2019].

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/907889001109094400

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #42 on: 09/27/2017 09:20 am »
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Michelle‏ @spacechelle 2m2 minutes ago

Space Logistics LLC, subsidiary of @OrbitalATK is poised to be first to launch their satellite servicing vehicle. Planned for 2018 #IAC2017

https://twitter.com/spacechelle/status/912969429436084227

Edit to add:

Quote
Jeff Foust‏ @jeff_foust 2m2 minutes ago

Tom Wilson, Space Logistics LLC: spending lot of time on regulatory issues for satellite life extension, but has been cooperative. #IAC2017

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/912970036796465153
« Last Edit: 09/27/2017 09:22 am by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline gongora

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #43 on: 12/09/2017 05:19 pm »
SAT-LOA-20170224-00021

Quote
On December 5, 2017, the Satellite Division granted in part and deferred in part, with conditions, the request of Space Logistics, LLC for authority to construct, deploy, and conduct telemetry, tracking and command functions with its Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1). Space Logistics was authorized to conduct TT&C operations in the 5925-6425 MHz and 13.75-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space), and 3700-4200 MHz and 11.45-12.25 GHz (space-to Earth) frequency bands as MEV-1: (i) is deployed from the launch vehicle; engages in orbit-raising maneuvers and conducts various post-launch system verification tests, and moves through the geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO); (ii) raises its orbit to the geostationary orbit "graveyard" orbit 300 km above the GSO orbital arc; and (iii) performs rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking with the Intelsat-901 space station (Call Sign S2405) in the graveyard orbit. Space Logistics' request to relocate MEV-1 with Intelsat-901 to the orbital location of another operational Intelsat satellite was deferred. Action on Space Logistics' request to relocate MEV-1 to a graveyard orbit at the completion of Intelsat-901's mission and to undock MEV-1 after de-commissioning of Intelsat-901 was also deferred.
« Last Edit: 12/09/2017 05:20 pm by gongora »

Offline jacqmans

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #44 on: 01/04/2018 01:07 pm »
Orbital ATK Receives Order for Second In-Orbit Satellite Servicing Vehicle

Intelsat Commits to Second Life Extension Mission

Dulles, Virginia 4 January 2018 – Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, today announced it has been awarded a contract for a second Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-2). The vehicle was ordered by Intelsat S.A. to provide life extension services for an Intelsat satellite. Orbital ATK is now producing MEV-1, the industry’s first commercial in-space satellite servicing system, for Intelsat with launch scheduled for late 2018. Under this new agreement, Orbital ATK will manufacture, test and launch MEV-2 and begin mission extension services in mid-2020. The production of the second MEV is part of Orbital ATK’s longer-range plan to establish a fleet of in-orbit servicing vehicles that can address diverse space logistics needs including repair, assembly, refueling and in-space transportation.

“Work on MEV-1 is progressing rapidly toward a late 2018 launch with system-level testing beginning this spring,” said Tom Wilson, President of Orbital ATK’s Space Logistics, LLC subsidiary. “With the launch of MEV-2, Orbital ATK will continue to pioneer in-space satellite servicing for commercial operators. Intelsat’s commitment to a second MEV demonstrates not only the market demand for our servicing vehicles, but also the customer’s confidence in our product.”

Through its Space Logistics subsidiary, Orbital ATK will introduce in-orbit commercial satellite servicing with MEV-1 late this year. The MEV is based on the company’s GEOStarTM spacecraft platform, and controlled by the company’s satellite operations team. The MEV uses a reliable, low-risk docking system that attaches to existing features on a customer’s satellite, and provides life-extending services by taking over the orbit maintenance and attitude control functions of the client’s spacecraft. Each MEV vehicle has a 15 year design life with the ability to perform numerous dockings and repositionings during its life span.

“Intelsat was an early proponent of the potential for mission extension technology,” said Ken Lee, Intelsat’s Senior Vice President, Space Systems. “In-orbit life extension, such as that provided by our two contracts with Orbital ATK, provides additional flexibility to our fleet management, allowing us to direct capital to new satellites while continuing to generate economic value from satellites in orbit. We look forward to our continued collaboration with Orbital ATK on commercializing this important new service.”

The work performed on MEV-2 will span multiple locations across the company. Orbital ATK’s spacecraft components division will be responsible for manufacturing the structures, propellant tanks and solar arrays at the company’s locations in San Diego and Goleta, California. The Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD) laboratory, located at the company’s headquarters in Dulles, Virginia, will test the sensors, actuators and control algorithms that allow the MEV to approach and dock with the client spacecraft.

Orbital ATK plans to expand its satellite servicing capabilities to address additional in-orbit needs of customers. The company is investing significant internal capital and, through a NASA Space Act Agreement, working with U.S. government agencies to develop and implement new capabilities for the MEV fleet. These include next-generation life extension and repair vehicles, in-orbit assembly of large space structures and cargo delivery and related services to deep space gateways, such as in lunar orbit.

Offline Tomness

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #45 on: 01/27/2018 08:02 pm »
with the launch anomaly with SES-14 &  AL YAH 3  (which is Orbital ATK Sat), could they launch MEV into direct insertion GEO to provide maximum MEV for these types of mission or slow and steady would be fine?

Offline Sam Ho

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #46 on: 01/30/2018 03:30 am »
with the launch anomaly with SES-14 &  AL YAH 3  (which is Orbital ATK Sat), could they launch MEV into direct insertion GEO to provide maximum MEV for these types of mission or slow and steady would be fine?
I'm not sure what you're proposing here.  SES-14 and Al Yah 3 are planning to relocate themselves to GSO using onboard propulsion at a cost of some of their normal stationkeeping propellant.  SES says it will cause them four weeks of delay to the on-orbit date, but that they should still meet the designed lifetime.  OA says Al Yah 3 will make it to GSO, but did not specify if the lifespan will be shortened.  SES-14 is all-electric and was originally slated for a Cape launch, and so probably has generous propellant margins.  Rough analysis suggests that getting from the VA241 orbit to GSO would cost around 3-5 extra years of stationkeeping propellant, minus whatever margin they launched with, so that's probably a worst-case estimate for Al Yah 3.  Given that VA241 was over 1700kg lighter than a typical Ariane 5 GTO mission, I would presume both spacecraft had their propellant tanks completely full.  Either way, neither satellite is likely to be a candidate for mission extension for a decade or more.

Offline TrevorMonty

By time they run low on few, OA will be offering refuelling, so only short visit by MEV will be required.


Offline primer_black

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #48 on: 01/30/2018 05:44 pm »
I suppose it's worthwhile to note that a satellite doesn't need to be running low on fuel to be a candidate for MEV services; the operator could simply wish to avoid early life fuel expenditures of a plane change, stationkeeping, or any other maneuvering.

I suppose it's moot though, as the supply of MEVs is currently limited and customers with near-empty tanks are likely to bid more to keep their birds flying.

Offline TrevorMonty

The two MEV orders are for fleet customers. I'm guessing customer owns or leases MEV for fix period, so it wouldn't be available for other customers unless they deal can be struck with current owner.

I can see case for insurance companies owning one, lease it out when not required. They may even be able to make profit on it while still never needing the MEV themselves.

DOD is another potential customer, given cost of their satellites a MEV would be cheap insurance.

While current version can only attach and move satellites, future version will add refuelling and limited repair. Current version should be able to do inspections, which is still valuable feature.
Refuelling is probable most important feature as all functional satellites could benefit from a topup.
« Last Edit: 01/30/2018 09:54 pm by TrevorMonty »

Offline gongora

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #50 on: 02/09/2019 01:32 am »
SAT-AMD-20190207-00008

The MEV-1/IS-901 stack will be used to replace IS-907 at 27.5W orbital location.

Offline primer_black

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #51 on: 10/08/2019 04:35 pm »
Bout time to bump this thread with launch tomorrow, updates in the Russian Launcher section:

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41418.0

Offline jongoff

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #52 on: 10/08/2019 05:00 pm »
Bout time to bump this thread with launch tomorrow, updates in the Russian Launcher section:

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41418.0

Fingers crossed for NG and MEV. I've known a lot of the people involved on this program over the years (which started at Swales that got bought by ATK that got bought by Orbital that got bought by NG), and hope they're successful here. I'm not sure if this will be seen as the start of the era of commercial satellite servicing or not, but it would still be great for the industry to see them succeed.

~Jon

Offline primer_black

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Offline TrevorMonty

Spacenews article on this launch.

https://spacenews.com/northrop-grummans-satellite-servicer-mev-1-eutelsat-satellite-launch-on-ils-proton/

Another related article.

https://spacenews.com/industry-weighs-governments-role-in-satellite-servicing/

Some question economics of satellite servicing given future of current GEO sats is not looking good. I think MEV is just right right vehicle for these aging GEOsats, allows their operators to put off replacements in an uncertain future for GEOsats.

The most important part of MEV is proving that rendevous and capture of satellites is possible. Once satellites can be captured reliably it opens up lot possibilities, servicing, payload replacement/upgrades assuming satellite has quick fix connections, refuelling. Persistant platforms now become an option whether they are in LEO, GEO or lunar orbits.

Offline high road

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #55 on: 10/10/2019 09:12 pm »

Would the MEV also allow more expensive sats to be placed in LEO? If their orbit degradation can be reversed every so often by refueling them/pushing them to a higher orbit, by way of a relatively cheap MEV. These sats might have completely different instruments, or far more sensitive instruments than the cheaper, mass produced LEO constellations. Is that a possible outcome, or doesn't that make any sense? (in which case, why?)

Offline Rondaz

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #56 on: 11/25/2019 11:11 pm »
MEV-1 - Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicle, launched Oct 9, has interrupted its move from super-synchronous orbit to GEO with no detectable thruster firings since Nov 19.

https://twitter.com/Zarya_Info/status/1199070952400838657

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle) : In space GEOsat servicing
« Reply #57 on: 11/26/2019 02:14 am »
MEV-1 - Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicle, launched Oct 9, has interrupted its move from super-synchronous orbit to GEO with no detectable thruster firings since Nov 19.

https://twitter.com/Zarya_Info/status/1199070952400838657
Well it does have to drift to its checkout point and then adjust to its first target.

Offline primer_black

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« Last Edit: 12/20/2019 05:26 pm by primer_black »

Offline TrevorMonty

https://twitter.com/SpcPlcyOnline/status/1220475235234959360

Marcia Smith (@SpcPlcyOnline) tweeted at 11:35 AM on Fri, Jan 24, 2020:
Northrop Grumman tells us "MEV-1 spacecraft remains in good health as it continues an orbit-raising mission for a planned rendezvous and docking with its client satellite. We are targeting this event for early February."

« Last Edit: 01/24/2020 01:13 am by zubenelgenubi »

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