Northrop Grumman and DARPA Deploy Robotic Satellite Servicing Vehicle

A new robotic servicer, the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), has been launched into orbit on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral. Developed by Northrop Grumman with DARPA funding of about $420 million, the MRV is equipped with two seven‑degree‑of‑freedom arms, cameras, sensors and a suite of tools for autonomous on‑orbit maintenance. Over its planned 10‑13‑year lifetime it will rendezvous with satellites on geostationary altitude, attach “space backpacks” and perform upgrades, extending the operational life of commercial spacecraft.

The MRV follows earlier Mission Extension Vehicles that could take control of aging satellites. Its dual‑arm design lets it service multiple customers and undertake more complex tasks such as installing propulsion modules. The system represents a shift from the historic “launch‑and‑forget” model toward a reusable orbital servicing industry.