Industry Looks to Government as Potential Satellite Servicing Client

Some industry executives say they see government agencies as potential customers of commercial satellite servicing platforms, SpaceNews reported Monday.

“The U.S. government is currently trying to be a customer to this industry,” said Joshua Davis of the Aerospace Corp. Davis stated that his company has a contract with Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics subsidiary to assess the possibility of using the latter’s vehicles to service satellites used for national security missions.

A SpaceLogistics-built satellite servicing spacecraft, Mission Extension Vehicle 1, is set to take off Wednesday, Oct. 9, from Kazakhstan aboard a Proton rocket.

Other panelists at a satellite servicing forum held Oct. 1 said the U.S. government should not demand cumbersome requirements should it become a satellite servicing customer.

“It has to be done in a way that opens markets. In other words, the government shouldn’t be seeking bespoke applications,” said Bhavya Lal of the Science and Technology Policy Institute.