Private mission launches to extend life of out-of-gas communication satellites - Phys.org
Northrop Grumman has launched a robotic mission designed to extend the operational life of aging communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit. The mission utilizes a specialized vehicle to attach jetpacks to satellites, allowing them to continue functioning for several additional years.
Why it matters
This technology reduces space debris and lowers costs for satellite operators by extending the lifespan of existing infrastructure rather than requiring new launches.
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Add as preferred source This image from video provided by SpaceX shows a Falcon 9 rocket carrying Northrop Grumman’s mission robotic vehicle — dubbed MRV, launches from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Credit: SpaceX via AP A two-armed space robot blasted off on a private salvage operation Tuesday to slap life-extending jetpacks on old satellites running low on fuel thousands of miles up.
It's the second satellite-saving mission to launch this month, all part of a growing, money-saving effort to keep spacecraft running as long as possible. Another company's three-armed spacecraft rocketed into orbit on July 3 to boost NASA's Swift Observatory so it doesn't crash to Earth this fall.
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