The UK-based life-extension satellite services spacecraft supplier, Effective Space Solutions, has signed up IAI (Israeli Aerospace Industries) to build its new Space Drone system. Under the deal IAI will invest in the Space Drone concept – a spacecraft which is designed to dock with older spacecraft to provide it with attitude control and other services with which to extend its operational life.
Illustration showing Space Drone docked with satellite. Courtesy: Effective Space
Under a previously announced launch contract, the launch of the first two Space Drones are to be launched on a Proton launch is due to take place in 2020 under an agreement to service to spacecraft for an unidentified operator.
Space Drone is a similar concept to the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) of Northrop Grumman.
