Intelsat, Starfish Space Reach Deal for Satellite Servicing Mission
26 Junio 2024 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
The first commercial Otter servicing vehicle
will provide years of life extension starting in 2026
Intelsat, operator of the world’s largest integrated satellite
and terrestrial network, signed a contract for a Starfish Otter
servicing vehicle to provide life extension services to an Intelsat
geostationary satellite, beginning in 2026. This landmark agreement
reinforces Intelsat’s commitment to utilizing satellite servicing
technologies to maximize the value its satellites can provide to
customers and will mark Starfish’s first mission to provide
services to a commercial satellite operator with Otter.
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Starting in 2026, Starfish Space’s Otter
will dock with a retired Intelsat satellite during a checkout
campaign before maneuvering to dock with and service one of
Intelsat’s operational satellites. (Courtesy: Starfish Space).
“For six decades, Intelsat has shown commitment to innovation
and leveraging new technologies from throughout the industry,” said
Jean-Luc Froeliger, Intelsat's Senior Vice President of Space
Systems. “By engaging with emerging ventures, we create unique
value for Intelsat while fostering a dynamic and competitive
environment that drives advancement in space systems. Starfish is
the perfect example of this kind of progress, and we look forward
to utilizing the services provided by their Otter satellite to
maximize the value the world’s largest geostationary satellite
fleet can deliver for our customers.”
Intelsat has been a pioneer of extending satellite missions,
signing its first agreement for satellite life extension in 2016,
and procuring multiple additional life extension missions in recent
years. The contract between Intelsat and Starfish represents a
significant step for both companies, expanding the market for
satellite servicing, and pushing the industry towards a new
paradigm for satellite operations. With its Otter spacecraft,
Starfish Space utilizes a small satellite architecture and
breakthrough hardware and software technologies to provide rapid,
flexible, and cost-effective on-orbit servicing missions for
satellites.
Starfish will begin its first servicing mission for Intelsat in
2026. Initially, Otter will dock with and maneuver a retired
Intelsat satellite in geostationary graveyard orbit. Following this
initial operation, Otter will proceed to dock with and provide life
extension service to an operational Intelsat satellite, using its
onboard propulsion system to keep the client satellite in
operational orbit for additional years of life.
“Starfish Space is delighted to be supporting Intelsat with
services provided by Otter,” said Dr. Trevor Bennett, Co-Founder of
Starfish Space. “They are an incredible team at the forefront of
the industry and the Otter will help them deliver even more to
their customers. We're also excited that this will be the first of
many Otters that will make on-orbit servicing a standard part of
satellite operations.”
About Intelsat
Intelsat’s global team of professionals is focused on providing
seamless and secure, satellite-based communications to government,
NGO and commercial customers through the company’s next-generation
worldwide network and managed services. Bridging the digital divide
by operating one of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite
fleet and connectivity infrastructures, Intelsat enables people and
their tools to speak over oceans, see across continents and listen
through the skies to communicate, cooperate and coexist. Since its
founding six decades ago, the company has been synonymous with
satellite-industry “firsts” in service to its customers and the
planet. Leaning on a legacy of innovation and focusing on
addressing a new generation of challenges Intelsat team members now
have their sights on the “next firsts” in space as they disrupt the
field and lead in the digital transformation of the industry.
About Starfish Space
Starfish Space is developing the Otter servicing vehicle to
extend the lives of satellites in geostationary orbit and dispose
of space debris in low-Earth orbit. Starfish has secured contracts
for its first Otter missions with Intelsat and the U.S. Space
Force, two of the largest global satellite operators. The company
launched its Otter Pup demonstration mission in June 2023 and is
now delivering on several satellite RPOD missions including its
Otter mission for Intelsat. For more information, please visit
starfishspace.com.
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Melissa Longo - melissa.longo@intelsat.com; +1 240-308-1881