Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics subsidiary is eyeing a 2026 launch for its next-generation satellite servicing vehicle, the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV). Equipped with robotic arms developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the MRV aims to extend the lifespan of satellites in geostationary orbit more than 22,500 miles above Earth. NRL announced Nov. 14 that the pair of robotic arms completed crucial thermal vacuum testing and are now at Northrop’s satellite integration facility in Dulles, Virginia. The arms were developed under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract. “This robotic payload promises to transform satellite operations in geostationary orbit, reduce costs for satellite operators, and enable capabilities well beyond what we have today,” said NRL’s director of research Bruce Danly. SpaceLogistics is using the robotic arms for the MRV under a partnership with DARPA. The company has already secured three customers for its MRV services — two satellites from Intelsat and one from Optus. These clients will receive Mission Extension Pods (MEPs), propulsion jet packs that can add approximately six years of operational life to aging satellites. “There’s about 500 satellites in GEO today and about 10 or more of those each year reach their end of life because they’ve run out of fuel,” SpaceLogistics President Rob Hauge told SpaceNews. The company expects to attract additional commercial and government customers for MRV missions before and after the 2026 launch.

Full report : The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory will deliver robotic arms to be used in MRV for Northrop Grumman.