For the first time in history, a satellite in a burial orbit has been serviced

Northrop Grumman made history by successfully completing the world's first mission to dock spacecraft in graveyard orbit.


The MEV-1 service module was a pioneer in proving the possibility of extending the service life of satellites in space, thereby completely changing the approach to the operation of space assets.

MEV-1 joined IS-901, which was previously placed into a disposal orbit after reaching the end of its operational life.

Thanks to the unique technology, MEV-1 not only returned the device to working condition, but also restored its full functionality. As a result, the satellite received a "second wind", avoiding an expensive replacement and a new launch.


After servicing IS-901, MEV-1 undocked cleanly and returned the craft to its graveyard orbit, completing its mission without any technological hiccups. It is now preparing for its next mission, details of which are currently being kept under wraps.

This approach culminated in the program's continuation: in 2021, the MEV-2 spacecraft was launched into orbit and successfully docked with the Intelsat 10-02 satellite in geostationary orbit.

A major achievement was that the entire operation was carried out without interruption in the operation of the target device, which was previously considered impossible.

MEV-2's actions nearly doubled the operational life of Intelsat 10-02, saving its operator hundreds of millions of dollars.

MEV-1 and MEV-2 were not just experiments, but proof of the effectiveness of a new approach to operating orbital infrastructure.

Northrop Grumman's devices perform the functions of maneuvering, keeping the satellite in a given position, correcting the orbit and stabilizing the orientation.

This is especially important for vehicles that are low on fuel but have all other electronics in excellent condition.

The next stage is the launch of a new series of service satellites, which will appear in orbit by 2026.


They will receive expanded capabilities: refueling, repair and modernization of devices directly in space, orbital assembly of new devices and removal of space debris.

Thus, the MEV-1 mission was not just a technical milestone, but a strategic step towards the exploration of orbital space.

Reducing the need to launch new satellites, rational use of existing resources and the development of orbital services are forming a new paradigm in the space industry.