by Chuck Black
The March 24th, 2014 Aviation Week Intelligence Network article, "Satellite-Servicing ‘Sea Change’ Coming Soon" has reported that Alliant Techsystems (ATK) subsidiary Vivisat, a "satellite-servicing startup developing life-extension vehicles for end-of-life commercial communications satellites in geostationary orbit," has booked "two customers for three missions, and expects to start building its specialized spacecraft by the end of 2014."
But details of the "final financing" to fund the missions are still to be settled, according to the article, which quoted both Vivisat CEO Craig Weston and COO Bryan McGuirk.
The methodology is generally considered less complex than others, such as BC based MacDonald Dettwiler (MDA), which, as outlined in the February 19th, 2012 post "Details of MDA On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Proposal," is designed with the capability to refuel multiple satellites from a single vehicle.
Of course, as outlined in the April 3rd, 2011 blog post "A Backgrounder for On-Orbit Satellite Servicing," the concept of orbital satellite refueling and repair has been around for almost as long as the modern space age with the strongest proponents always poised to move forward almost immediately.
The March 24th, 2014 Aviation Week Intelligence Network article, "Satellite-Servicing ‘Sea Change’ Coming Soon" has reported that Alliant Techsystems (ATK) subsidiary Vivisat, a "satellite-servicing startup developing life-extension vehicles for end-of-life commercial communications satellites in geostationary orbit," has booked "two customers for three missions, and expects to start building its specialized spacecraft by the end of 2014."
As outlined in the January 13th, 2011 Vivisat press release "ViviSat Launched - New Venture Will Provide Satellite Life Extension Services," as posted on the Spaceref.com website, the plan uses a Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) to dock permanently to an orbiting satellite and take over operations from the original propulsion system.
Of course, as outlined in the April 3rd, 2011 blog post "A Backgrounder for On-Orbit Satellite Servicing," the concept of orbital satellite refueling and repair has been around for almost as long as the modern space age with the strongest proponents always poised to move forward almost immediately.
Lets see how this latest announcement stands the test of time.
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