9 April 2025 – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, became the first and only satellite operator to complete a satellite life-extension mission. The Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) added five years of reliable service and global connectivity to the Intelsat 901 (IS-901) satellite and its customers. The world’s first MEV, developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Space Logistics LLC, successfully detached from IS-901 after moving the satellite to the graveyard orbit, where the satellite will be decommissioned after nearly 24 years of service. The MEV first docked with IS-901 in February of 2020 nearly 19 years after the satellite was first launched. Read more