The MEV (Mission Extension Vehicle-1) are services satellites designed to offer life extension services for in-orbit satellites. They are operated by SpaceLogistics LLC, wholly-owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.
Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (NGIS), formerly Orbital ATK) manufactured, tested and launched the first Commercial Servicing Vehicle (CSV), the MEV-1, which incorporates flight-proven technologies the company has used in its commercial satellite and space logistics businesses. After successfully completing a series of in-orbit tests, the MEV-1 began its mission extension service for Intelsat in 2019.
Orbital ATK introduceed in-orbit satellite servicing with the Mission Extension Vehicle-1 which is based on the company?s GEOStar-3 spacecraft bus platform. Controlled by the company?s satellite operations team, the MEV-1 uses a reliable, low-risk docking system that attaches to existing features on a customer?s satellite. The MEV-1 provides life-extending services by taking over the propulsion and attitude control functions. The vehicle has a 15-year design life with the ability to perform numerous dockings and undockings during its life span.
The launch of the MEV-1 took place in October 2019 as a co-passenger on a Proton-M Briz-M (Ph.4) rocket with in-orbit testing and demonstration to be performed with the Intelsat-901 satellite in the graveyard orbit. MEV-1 will then after rigorous testing relocate the satellite scheduled for the mission extension service, which is planned for a five-year period after which Intelsat 901 will be placed back into graveyard orbit. Intelsat will also have the option to service multiple satellites using the same MEV. In April 2025, Intelsat 901 was put back into graveyard orbit a,d MEV 1 disconnected from it. It will move to dock with an Optus satellite for life extension services.
A second MEV was ordered for Intelsat in January 2018. MEV-2 was put into service by mid-2020 on a five-year mission for Intelsat. MEV 2 is equipped to carry hosted payloads from commercial companies and small satellites that could be deployed for science missions. MEV 2 shared the upper berth of an Ariane-5ECA+ rocket with Galaxy 30, while a third payload flies in the lower berth. The initial mission of MEV 2 is to extend the life of Intelsat 10-02.
