Perhaps I was a bit hasty to label my last LinkedIn post on this activity as “Final.” Alas, I find myself compelled to provide a succinct update on the current situation.
For those unfamiliar, Northrop Grumman’s Space Logistics (corporate site) is in the business of on-orbit servicing, or what the cool kids refer to as In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM).
While not as ambitious as active Chinese efforts to actually refuel geosynchronous satellites, Space Logistics’ “Mission Extension Vehicles” (MEV) satellites provide a piggy back ride to extend the operational lifetime of geosynchronous satellite running low on gas. (We’ll have to wait until the US Space Force “Tetra 5” mission for actual refueling by the U.S.)
The short version.
On 20 May 2025 MEV-1 (44625 / 2019-067B) docked with the Australian communications satellite OPTUS D3 (35756 / 2009-044B) after initiating a sequence of maneuvers staring in early May palcing MEV-1 into a rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) orbit with OPTUS D3. MEV-1 had previously provided station-keeping services for Intelsat 901 (26824) since February 2020, and successfully retired Intelsat 901 by maneuvering it and undocking outside the GEO Protected Region in late March 2020.
So what has happened since late May? MEV-1 has maneuvered OPTUS D3 to a lower inclination more consistent with the historical operational orbit of OPTUS D3. In fact, MEV-1 has continued to maneuver and “flipped” the ascending node (ref graphic). For those unfamiliar with the peculiar solar-lunar perturbations in geosynchronous orbit, the resulting right ascension of the ascending node (RAAN) provides a natural inclination decrease. Indeed, it appears on 04 Oct 2025 MEV-1 maneuvers have ceased, as evidenced by the natural inclination decrease which has now started (ref graphic)
I’m personally looking forward to what Space Logistics has in store next with their Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) which just completed a key milestone for a joint DARPA and Naval Research Lab (NRL) program.