The Restore-L satellite-servicing mission has completed a critical Nasa review known as Mission Preliminary Design Review (PDR), using a spacecraft bus developed by Space Systems Loral (SSL).

Completion of the PDR has enabled the mission to move towards its next phase of development, which is called Key Decision Point C (KDP-C) and expected to be carried out early next year.

Scheduled to be launched by 2020, Restore-L will be owned by Nasa and provide satellite servicing in low-Earth orbit (LEO).

“The spacecraft bus used in the latest development was developed as part of a contract awarded by Nasa to SSL last year.”

Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center’s satellite servicing projects division (SSPD) is involved in the development of Restore-L, which will be designed to refuel a US Government satellite orbiting in LEO.

Once launched, Restore-L will use robotics to grasp, refuel, and relocate the satellite.

The mission will also be able to validate the use of tools, technologies and techniques developed to allow Nasa’s future space exploration missions and satellite servicing in LEO.

SSL Government Systems president Richard White said: “The satellite-servicing technologies that Restore-L will demonstrate are critically important to our nation’s security, commercial development of innovative activities in LEO, and fundamental to future Nasa missions to cislunar space and Mars.”

The spacecraft bus used in the latest development was developed as part of a contract awarded by Nasa to SSL last year.

SSL has employed its SSL 1300 spacecraft platform to build the Restore-L’s design.

The SSL 1300 spacecraft bus can provide structural support, propulsion, attitude control, data and communications interface, and power to support the Restore-L robotic payload for the on-orbit demonstration.