DARPA Selects SpaceLogistics for Robotic Servicing Mission

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has partnered with SpaceLogistics, a Northrop Grumman subsidiary, to work on the agency's Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites program.

Leveraging robotic servicing spacecraft, the partners will attempt to achieve in-orbit repair, augmentation, assembly, detailed inspection and relocation of client satellites.

DARPA shall install a Navy-designed robotics payload in the system while SpaceLogistics shall provide its Mission Robotic Vehicle bus leveraging technologies, Northrop Grumman announced Wednesday.

The MRV was originally developed to develop Northrop Grumman's satellite servicing vehicle, the Mission Extension Vehicle.

SpaceLogistics President Tom Wilson said the aim is to create a fleet of satellite servicing vehicles that provide customers a variety of life-extension and in-orbit repair options.