Will Use CX-OLEVTM "Space Tug"
Orbital Recovery says it's agreed to
a telecommunications satellite life extension mission that will use
the company's innovative CX-OLEVTM "space tug" as an in-orbit
service vehicle.
This reservation guarantees a launch slot for the CX-OLEV
(ConeXpress Orbital Life Extension Vehicle) to prolong the
operation of a major international operator's communications
spacecraft, and it marks an important milestone in the development
of in-orbit servicing for commercial telecom platforms.
"We are delighted to have executed this agreement, which
represents a key step in our development of the CX-OLEV," said
Philip Braden, Orbital Recovery's Chief Executive Officer. "The
reserved mission - as well as several others currently under
discussion with future customers - will lead to multiple CX-OLEVs
being ordered from the European led industrial team."
The Orbital Recovery life extension mission reserved by the
Memorandum of Agreement would be performed in 2009. It will use the
CX-OLEV "space tug" to provide propulsion, navigation and guidance
to maintain the telecommunication operator's satellite in the
proper orbital slot for a minimum of five additional years. This
will enable the customer to significantly prolong the
revenue-generating service of a valuable in-orbit
telecommunications asset, which otherwise would be decommissioned
when reaching the end of its normal operating lifetime.
Orbital Recovery Group is developing the CX-OLEV (ConeXpress
Orbital Life Extension Vehicle) with a European industrial team
that includes Dutch Space, Kayser-Threde, the DLR German Space
Agency, Swedish Space Corporation, SENER, EADS CASA, Arianespace,
Snecma, Contraves Space and Grupo GMV. The CX-OLEV programme is
supported by the European Space Agency's ARTES 4 public-private
partnership initiative.
Telecommunications satellites
typically cost in excess of $250 million to place in orbit, with an
average useful on-orbit life of 10-15 years. Once their on-board
propellant has been depleted, the satellites are boosted into a
disposal orbit and decommissioned, even though their
revenue-generating communications relay payloads are still
functional.
Orbital Recovery Group's CX-OLEV is a new-generation spacecraft
that will significantly prolong the operating lifetimes of these
valuable telecommunications satellites. Launched aboard the
Arianespace Ariane 5 launcher, the CX-OLEV will operate as an
orbital "tugboat" - supplying the propulsion, navigation and
guidance to maintain even the largest telecom satellite in its
proper orbital slot for up to eight additional years.
In addition, the CX-OLEV is able to boost satellites to disposal
orbits after the completion of their operational service - which is
now becoming mandatory for telecommunications spacecraft operating
in geostationary orbit. For operators of satellite fleets, a
CX-OLEV could perform the disposal service for multiple spacecraft,
remaining in orbit and available on call when needed.
Orbital Recovery has an exclusive arrangement with Arianespace
to launch CX-OLEVs on the Ariane 5 launcher.