German space robotic technology will be utilized by Orbital Recovery Corporation on a unique new spacecraft designed extend the useful life of multi-million dollar telecommunications satellites by up to 10 years.
A Letter of Intent enables the DLR German Aerospace Center’s robotic capture tool concept to be incorporated on the Geosynch Spacecraft Life Extension System (SLES), which is under development by Orbital Recovery Corporation for operation beginning in 2005.
The German capture tool will allow an SLES spacecraft to dock with a telecom satellite in orbit, securely linking them together for long-term operation.
Orbital Recovery Corporation conceived the SLES as an orbital “tugboat” – supplying the propulsion, navigation and guidance to keep telecommunications platforms in their proper orbital slot for many years beyond the normal operational lifetime. Another SLES application is the rescue of relay spacecraft that have been placed in a wrong orbit by their launch vehicles, or which have become stranded in an incorrect orbital location during positioning maneuvers.
“This is a very important beginning which will provide us with mature on-orbit robotic servicing technology that greatly reduces the risk of implementing our business plan,” Walt Anderson, Orbital Recovery Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, said. “DLR is known worldwide as a leader in the development of robotics, and we welcome this world-class aerospace partner to the international team that is developing the SLES.”
The Letter of Intent which was signed at the international On-orbit Servicing Workshop in Cologne, Germany – covers the DLR’s provision of two capture tools to Orbital Recovery Corporation beginning in 2004, allowing the first SLES mission to be performed the following year. Additional capture tools will be produced by German industry for subsequent SLES flights.
The DLR also will provide the software for remote telepresence operation for the rendezvous and docking segment of the SLES mission. Orbital Recovery and DLR are entering into a long term licensing agreement for the use of the DLR developed capture tool and software that will continue to advance the art while reducing risk to Orbital Recovery’s customers.
“The DLR has made a significant investment in robotics, and we are pleased at the opportunity of commercializing this technology on Orbital Recovery Corporation’s SLES spacecraft,” Klaus Berge, DLR space flight project director, said.
The SLES is designed to easily mate with all three-axis stabilized telecommunications satellites now in space or on the drawing boards. After launch, the SLES will rendezvous with a telecommunications platform, approaching it from below for docking. The linkup will use the DLR-designed capture tool, which connects to the telecom satellite at its apogee kick motor.
Telecommunications satellites typically cost $250 million – and they are designed for an average useful on-orbit life of 10-15 years. Once their on-board propellant load is depleted, the satellites are boosted into a disposal orbit and decommissioned – even though their revenue-generating communications relay payloads may continue to function.
Orbital Recovery Corporation has identified more than 40 telecommunications satellites currently in orbit that are candidates for life extension using the SLES.
The Orbital Recovery Corporation/DLR robotic license relationship was initiated and brokered by Joerg Kreisel, (of JOERG KREISEL International Consultant, Germany), a recognized specialist in space commercialization and finance.
Additional information on Orbital Recovery Corporation can be obtained on the company’s Website: http://www.orbitalrecovery.com. The DLR Web site, http://www.dlr.de, has details on the space center’s advanced robotic technology and its other operations.
Press & media contact:
Jeffrey Lenorovitz
The InfoWEST Group
Media relations agency for Orbital Recovery Corporation
Tel: +1 703 560-6330
U.S. mobile: +1 703 615-3646
International GSM: +33 (0)6 80 85 86 25
e-mail: jleno@infowestgroup.com
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