SSL’s Richard White: On-Orbit Servicing Process Can Depend on Client Spacecraft Requirements

Richard White, president of SSL‘s government systems business, said in a Geospatial World report published Thursday the actual satellite servicing process can change depending on a client spacecraft’s design, orbit and requirements.

White added on-orbit servicing generally covers “rendezvous and gentle capture of the client, completion of servicing tasks using the servicer’s robotic arms and toolkit, and then release of the client within a few days.”

SSL has designed a platform to help repair government and commercial satellites in orbit.

The Maxar Technologies subsidiary is working with NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency  through the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites and Restore-L programs.