Orbital ATK Receives Order for Second In-Orbit Satellite Servicing Vehicle
Intelsat Commits to Second Life Extension Mission
DULLES, Va.Jan. 4, 2018--
Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, today announced it has been awarded a contract for a
second Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-2). The vehicle was ordered by
Intelsat S.A. to provide life extension services for an Intelsat
satellite. Orbital ATK is now producing MEV-1, the industry s first
commercial in-space satellite servicing system, for Intelsat with launch
scheduled for late 2018. Under this new agreement, Orbital ATK will
manufacture, test and launch MEV-2 and begin mission extension services
in mid-2020. The production of the second MEV is part of Orbital ATK s
longer-range plan to establish a fleet of in-orbit servicing vehicles
that can address diverse space logistics needs including repair,
assembly, refueling and in-space transportation.
Work on MEV-1 is progressing rapidly toward a late 2018 launch with
system-level testing beginning this spring, said Tom Wilson, President
of Orbital ATK s Space Logistics, LLC subsidiary. With the launch of
MEV-2, Orbital ATK will continue to pioneer in-space satellite servicing
for commercial operators. Intelsat s commitment to a second MEV
demonstrates not only the market demand for our servicing vehicles, but
also the customer s confidence in our product.
Through its Space Logistics subsidiary, Orbital ATK will introduce
in-orbit commercial satellite servicing with MEV-1 late this year. The
MEV is based on the company s GEOStarTM spacecraft platform,
and controlled by the company s satellite operations team. The MEV uses
a reliable, low-risk docking system that attaches to existing features
on a customer s satellite, and provides life-extending services by
taking over the orbit maintenance and attitude control functions of the
client s spacecraft. Each MEV vehicle has a 15-year design life with the
ability to perform numerous dockings and repositionings during its life
span.
Intelsat was an early proponent of the potential for mission extension
technology, said Ken Lee, Intelsat s Senior Vice President, Space
Systems. In-orbit life extension, such as that provided by our two
contracts with Orbital ATK, provides additional flexibility to our fleet
management, allowing us to direct capital to new satellites while
continuing to generate economic value from satellites in orbit. We look
forward to our continued collaboration with Orbital ATK on
commercializing this important new service.
The work performed on MEV-2 will span multiple locations across the
company. Orbital ATK s spacecraft components division will be
responsible for manufacturing the structures, propellant tanks and solar
arrays at the company s locations in San Diego and Goleta, California.
The Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD) laboratory,
located at the company s headquarters in Dulles, Virginia, will test the
sensors, actuators and control algorithms that allow the MEV to approach
and dock with the client spacecraft.
Orbital ATK plans to expand its satellite servicing capabilities to
address additional in-orbit needs of customers. The company is investing
significant internal capital and, through a NASA Space Act Agreement,
working with U.S. government agencies to develop and implement new
capabilities for the MEV fleet. These include next-generation life
extension and repair vehicles, in-orbit assembly of large space
structures and cargo delivery and related services to deep space
gateways, such as in lunar orbit.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies.
The company designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation
systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and
merchant supplier. Its main products include launch vehicles and related
propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense
electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition;
satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced
aerospace structures. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK
employs approximately 13,500 people across the U.S. and in several
international locations. For more information, visit www.orbitalatk.com.
Source: Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK
Media Contact:
Vicki Cox, 703-406-5663
Group
Lead Public Relations
Vicki.Cox@OrbitalATK.com
or
Investor
Contact:
Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528
Public and Investor
Relations
barron.beneski@orbitalatk.com
