Intelsat has signed a contract to become the first customer for Orbital ATK’s new satellite life extension service.

Under the deal, Orbital ATK will manufacture, test and launch the commercial servicing vehicle (CSV), Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1), which includes flight-proven technologies the company has used in its commercial satellite and space logistics businesses.

Claimed to be the first of its kind, the launch of the first of five planned MEV is scheduled for late 2018 with in-orbit testing and demonstration to be performed with an Intelsat satellite by early 2019.

MEV-1 will then reposition to the Intelsat satellite planned for the mission extension service, which is planned for a five-year period.

"Today’s announcement signals that we are just getting started in expanding our CSV fleet to provide a diverse array of in-space services in the future."

Intelsat will also be able to service multiple satellites using the same MEV.

Orbital ATK president and chief executive officer David Thompson said: "There is a vital need to service fully functional but ageing satellites in both commercial and government markets.

"Backed by our continued investment, today’s announcement signals that we are just getting started in expanding our CSV fleet to provide a diverse array of in-space services in the future."

Managed by Orbital ATK’s satellite operations team, the MEV-1 is based on the company’s GEOStar spacecraft bus platform and uses a low-risk docking system that attaches to existing features on a customer’s satellite.

Designed to have a life span of 15 years, the MEV-1 provides life-extending services by taking over the propulsion and attitude control functions.

The vehicle can perform various dockings and undockings during its life span.

Orbital ATK expects to establish a fleet of servicing vehicles in order to address various servicing needs of GEO satellites, as well as provide other services including repair and assembly.

The MEV vehicle will initially serve as a jet backpack, increasing the life of a satellite by offering a substitute manoeuvring system, reports Reuters.

In future, the satellite servicing vehicles are expected to fix problems, including unfolding a blocked solar array, refuelling satellites and assembling satellites in orbit.