Northrop Grumman satellite makes the first space docking of its kind 22,500 miles above Earth after nearly running out of fuel. MEV has solved this issue: It is a vehicle designed to dock with geostationary satellites whose fuel is nearly depleted. Northrop Grumman makes history, Mission Extension Vehicle docks to target satellite. The Intelsat 901 satellite as seen by MEV-1 before docking. Since the number of potentially unusable satellites is so vast, Northrop Grumman is leading the way in developing satellite servicing plans and technology.
After nearly 19 years in space, Intelsat 901 is running low on fuel. On February 25th, Northrop Grumman’s Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-1) docked with a communications satellite, Intelsat 901. DULLES, Va. – Feb. 26, 2020 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SpaceLogistics LLC, have successfully completed the first docking of the Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1) to the Intelsat 901 (IS-901) spacecraft in order to provide life-extension services. Image: Northrop Grumman An old communications satellite in orbit around Earth is back …