Infinite Orbits and SES are going to collaborate in Europe’s first commercial life extension mission—in-orbit services provide concrete solutions to satellite operators seeking ways to better manage and renew their fleets.
Building on its tailored-to-market offering, Infinite Orbits meets the market’s demands for cost-effective and robust technological performance, and is expanding its collaboration with SES in Europe’s first commercial life extension mission.
Following an in-orbit demonstration, Infinite Orbits will extend the lifespan of at least one of SES’s GEO satellites by five years, with further missions under consideration in the years ahead. This will make Infinite Orbits the first European company to carry out such a mission, and only the second in the world.
Endurance™ is a 750 kg life-extension vehicle for GEO satellites. Leveraging a patented Infinite Orbits’ autonomous, vision-based, navigation technology allowing assets in space to approach and dock to one another, Endurance is compatible with more than 70% of current end-of-life GEO satellites.
This life-extension vehicle has been designed to offer Infinite Orbits’ clients a new generation of in-orbit services, including station keeping, pointing management, orbital relocation and end-of-life disposal. Its launch is currently planned for late 2027, and is expected to dock with one SES satellite following an in-orbit demonstration.
Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, said, “Extending the operational life of our GEO satellites is important for delivering continued value to customers and optimizing satellite economics. At the same time, we remain committed to advancing space sustainability through innovative approaches. We are excited to collaborate with Infinite Orbits to enable responsible use of space while ensuring long-term service continuity.”