Northrop Grumman's space zombie slayer grants Intelsat 901 five more years in orbit

Northrop Grumman's zombie satellite-slaying Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) has docked to the Intelsat 901 satellite, potentially affording the latter a life extension. It is the first time two commercial spacecraft have docked in orbit as well as the first time a geosynchronous satellite has had its mission extended in this …

[Pascal Monett]

"heads off to assist other client spacecraft"

Because after five years it's going to have the fuel to do that ?

I thought they made one MEV per satellite to service.

[Mystereed]

Re: "heads off to assist other client spacecraft"

Nope - "The vehicle has a 15-year design life with the ability to perform numerous dockings and undockings during its life span."

Source - https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/mev-1.htm

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: "heads off to assist other client spacecraft"

... also in the article...

[Chris G]

Re: "heads off to assist other client spacecraft"

Wondering if it can 'assist' non client spacecraft into a decommissioning orbit?

[I ain't Spartacus]

Re: "heads off to assist other client spacecraft"

That's a lovely satellite you've got there guv. It would be a shame if something... happened to it... You know what I mean?

[Aladdin Sane]

Well deserved

[Notas Badoff]

Who watches the ...

Quite amazing no mention of the other 'helpful' satellite presences, such as in this article.

The lack of space law regarding interference with satellites is why this hasn't been tried before, well, publicly. Every government has said you can't do that because we don't want anyone to be able to do that. While, you know, 'researching' how to do it.

Let's see... wide-open environment with technological innovation providing benefits to everyone. Space. Internet. Noticed how "wild west" the Internet has gotten? Wait till someone demands 10K GreenCheeseCoin to unlock your satellite.

[Sgt_Oddball]

Re: Who watches the ...

And not a single mention of extinct volcano lairs, astronaught henchmen or white Persian cats.

I for one, am disappointed.

Mines the one with the ill tempered bass in the pocket...

[MyffyW]

Re: Who watches the ...

Mine is the coat which takes a clear, expositional two minutes to fasten up whilst I explain my plan in detail, because - 007 - you will not live to see my genius and instead be eaten by Sharks/Molten Lava/Rosa Kleb

[John Brown (no body)]

Re: Who watches the ...

"And not a single mention of extinct volcano lairs, astronaught henchmen or white Persian cats."

And no mention of robotic "sex in spaaaaaace" or alien probes entering orifices. Not even a Uranus comment from our friend with the overly long name.!

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Who watches the ...

Signal interception? Ican think of a few ways to send a close nit signal from a spy satellite... having 2 snoopers close by would make it easier to intercept transmissions.

[Ken 16]

Ambitious

They are starting with MEV-1 boosting older sats to higher orbits but the plan is to carry out inspection, repair and refuelling in orbit with later MEV versions.

[MyffyW]

Re: Ambitious

... and in subsequent missions offer wiper blade and bulb replacements and a 4 for the price of 3 tyre service?

[Anonymous Coward]

Refueling?

I imagine that might be tricky as I doubt current satellites are designed with refueling in mind. I could easily see some being designed to have the fuel port permanently sealed prior to launch - what benefit would there be from having an easily accessible way to open it?