The ability to breathe new life into an aging satellite making use of robot mechanics could potentially enhance satellite industry efficiency and lessen mission expenses, and at least one aerospace firm is forging ahead with plans to do just that.
Now, all the organization demands is buyers. “We’re ready to promote, we’re prepared to build, we’re prepared to supply,” said Edward Horowitz, ViviSat’s chairman of the board. ViviSat is a joint venture of rocket manufacturer Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and aerospace firm U.S. Space.
ViviSat’s Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) is currently being developed to dock to satellites in orbit, and then use its personal thrusters to offer propulsion and perspective control. Amongst other functions, the spacecraft will be ready to adjust an older satellite’s orbit, rescue totally fueled satellites that may have launched into the wrong area, or move a satellite into a various orbit for a entirely new function.
“Our target marketplace is both business spacecraft as well as government spacecraft,” Horowitz, told SPACE.com at the 28th National Space Symposium in mid-April. “If you just look at the business industry, there are 350 to 360 satellites in geostationary orbit.
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• Spacecraft Repair Droids Could Give Satellites Longer Lives
Spacecraft Repair Droids Could Give Satellites Longer Lives Denise Chow, SPACE.com Staff Writer Date: 15 May 2012 Time: 01:18 PM ET FOLLOW US SHARE ViviSat’s Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) will help satellite operators extend the lives of satellites in their fleet. CREDIT: ViviSat The ability to breathe new life into an aging satellite using…