The robotics payload, including two robotic arms and electronics developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson

The U.S Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) delivered the the robotics payload to Northrop Grumman for the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV). The robotics payload included two robotic arms and electronics.

Northrop Grumman announced the delivery on Thursday, saying it is a step forward for what is set to be the first commercial spacecraft with robotic servicing capabilities for commercial and government satellites. The payload was developed for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s (DARPA) Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites program under a partnership announced in 2020.

The MRV will be launched to Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) and will inspect, relocate, repair and offer other in-space servicing missions. This includes installing Northrop Grumman’s Mission Extension Pods to extend the life of satellites on orbit. Once the payload is fully integrated, the completed MRV spacecraft will go through environmental testing to validate its performance in space.

“We are creating an in-space servicing infrastructure that has never existed before. Our successful experience in rendezvous, proximity operations and docking has laid the foundation for this critical next step in creating a more sustainable model for future satellite operations,” commented Rob Hauge, president of Northrop Grumman subsidiary SpaceLogistics.

Northrop Grumman and SpaceLogistics made history in 2020 when the SpaceLogistics’ Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-1) performed the first-ever in-orbit commercial spacecraft docking with the Intelsat 901 satellite. A second MEV began providing similar life-extension services for Intelsat 10-02 in 2021. Intelsat has also ordered two Mission Extension Pods (MEPs) from Northrop Grumman.