For the first time, a spacecraft has returned an aging satellite to service | Ars Technica

For the first time, a spacecraft has returned an aging satellite to service | Ars Technica

A view of the IS-901 satellite from MEV-1 during approach from approximately 20 metres, with Earth in the background. (Northrop Grumman)

First ever satellite-on-satellite rescue

For the first time ever, a space ‘tow truck’ has rescued a commercial satellite. US aerospace-technology company Northrup Grumman’s Mission Extension Vehicle-1, or MEV-1, docked with Intelsat 901, an ageing communications satellite, in late February. Last Friday, MEV-1 adjusted the satellite’s inclination and orbit to give it a new lease on life. MEV-1 itself has a lifespan of 15 years, and can dock to and undock from multiple satellites.

Ars Technica | 3 min read