Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Spacecraft designed for robotic satellite servicing more than 22,000 miles away from Earth is now in orbit after more than two decades of development and collaboration is now on its way to geosynchronous Earth orbit.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in partnership with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and with consultation from NASA developed the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS), a dual-robotic arm system that served as the primary payload onboard Northrop Grummans Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) spacecraft. It launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Tuesday, July 21, alongside three of Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Pods (MEP), jetpack-type spacecraft capable of extending the life of satellites up to 2,000 kg by up to eight years.
Spaceflight Now spoke exclusively with the acting director of the NRL's Naval Center for Space Technology as well as leaders within both NASA and DARPA to learn all about the history of the RSGS and MRV and the potential of this novel technology a long time in the making.
Reporting and editing by Will Robinson-Smith, Spaceflight Now
Video by John Pisani, Spaceflight Now
Additional video:
• International Launch Services
• Northrop Grumman
• U.S. Navy
This coverage is made possible by the support of our members. Join this channel to help us expand our coverage and get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCoLdERT4-TJ82PJOHSrsZLQ/join
Spacecraft designed for robotic satellite servicing more than 22,000 miles away from Earth is now in orbit after more than two decades of development and collaboration is now on its way to geosynchronous Earth orbit.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in partnership with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and with consultation from NASA developed the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS), a dual-robotic arm system that served as the primary payload onboard Northrop Grummans Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) spacecraft. It launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Tuesday, July 21, alongside three of Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Pods (MEP), jetpack-type spacecraft capable of extending the life of satellites up to 2,000 kg by up to eight years.
Spaceflight Now spoke exclusively with the acting director of the NRL's Naval Center for Space Technology as well as leaders within both NASA and DARPA to learn all about the history of the RSGS and MRV and the potential of this novel technology a long time in the making.
Reporting and editing by Will Robinson-Smith, Spaceflight Now
Video by John Pisani, Spaceflight Now
Additional video:
• International Launch Services
• Northrop Grumman
• U.S. Navy
This coverage is made possible by the support of our members. Join this channel to help us expand our coverage and get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCoLdERT4-TJ82PJOHSrsZLQ/join
