New lease of life beckons for satellites
Will this solution extend the service life of in-orbit satellites? (Photo: Astroscale)
A US-owned Israeli firm is developing a logistical solution to avoid the problem of drift orbit.
Israeli company Effective Space has designed an auxiliary satellite to prolong the life of an operational satellite in low-earth or geostationary orbit by up to 15 years.
Tests of the new system are being conducted in cooperation with US company Astroscale, which acquired the intellectual property, assets, operations and engineering staff of Effective Space in 2020. This marked the first acquisition of an Israeli space company by a foreign firm.
Effective Space was established in 2013 by Arie Helzband to produce satellites in Israel that can be launched and attached to ‘veteran’ space platforms to provide fuel for their thrusters.
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Space Solutions Special Report
-
![British Army embraces SlingShot]()
British Army embraces SlingShot
Add-on kit turns UHF/VHF radio into a BLoS solution to support voice and data communications.
-
![DEWC Systems takes MOESS sensor development to next stage]()
DEWC Systems takes MOESS sensor development to next stage
The MOESS programme intends to deploy a sovereign Australian tactical electromagnetic sensor capability, installed on a constellation of CubeSats. DEWC is developing a sensor that can conduct radar electronic support in defence-relevant radio frequency bands used by assets such as ships and aircraft.
-
![MDA unlocks key challenge to advanced ballistic missile tracking]()
MDA unlocks key challenge to advanced ballistic missile tracking
The US is progressing with its HBTSS project, having overcome an important obstacle.
-
![Is Russian manned space technology shifting towards military applications?]()
Is Russian manned space technology shifting towards military applications?
Plans for Russia to build its own orbital station could enable geospatial intelligence-gathering missions and onboard military experiments away from international observers.
-
![EU plays catch-up on launchers]()
EU plays catch-up on launchers
Europe ceded the initiative on reusable launcher technology in 2014 and only now is it trying to claw back the lost ground.
-
![Military explores potential of commercial SATCOM]()
Military explores potential of commercial SATCOM
Commercial satellite constellations may find favour with the DoD for low Earth orbit solutions.
