On Tuesday, July 21, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a test vehicle for satellite servicing into orbit. This was reported by UNN with reference to the company's press service.
Details
The rocket lifted off at 5:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (9:15 p.m. GMT) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
SpaceX named the launch MRV-MEV, as it placed into orbit the Mission Robotic Vehicle and three Mission Extension Pods (MEP) modules. These spacecraft were operated by SpaceLogistics, a subsidiary of the aerospace giant Northrop Grumman based in Virginia
The company also reported that the new mission will be aimed at extending the operational life of such satellites.
The MRV vehicle is equipped with two robotic manipulators, each 10 feet (3 meters) long, built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Using these manipulators, it will attach the MEP modules — the first three ever launched — to three separate satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO)
SpaceX's record for rocket reuse stands at 36 flights, set earlier this month during the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Starlink internet satellites.
Recall
The U.S. Space Force has signed a contract with SpaceX worth $2.29 billion to create a secure high-speed satellite communications network to connect military sensors and weapons platforms around the world.