Imagine if you had to throw away a luxury car every 15 years because you couldn't refill the gas tank, even if the engine worked perfectly. This project builds a robotic 'tow truck' for space that attaches to old satellites to take over their steering and fuel. It keeps them working for another 5 years before safely parking them in a space graveyard.
GEO satellite operators must decommission functioning assets worth over 200M€ every 15 years due to fuel depletion. This creates massive CAPEX burdens and requires market forecasting 15 years in advance.
A life extension vehicle ('Servicer') featuring autonomous vision-based navigation and a mechanical docking system to take over satellite control.
If you are a GEO satellite operator dealing with assets worth >200M€ that are running out of fuel — this project developed a Servicer vehicle that provides 5 more years of life by taking over the control systems.
If you are a debris management firm dealing with the risk of space collisions — this project developed a docking system that transfers satellites to the graveyard orbit in compliance with national regulation.
If you are an insurer dealing with the high CAPEX risk of 15-year satellite lifecycles — this project developed a life extension service that reduces the frequency of total asset replacement.
It reduces high CAPEX expenditure that currently occurs every 15 years by extending the operational life of assets worth >200M€.
The project is moving toward a final design phase, with a full servicer demonstrator expected in early 2025.
The service is based on Infinite Orbits' patented technology for autonomous vision-based navigation for non-cooperative targets.
The servicer ensures the host satellite is moved to the graveyard orbit in compliance with space debris mitigation and national regulation.
A minimum viable product (OrbitGuard) was expected by December 2022, and the full Endurance demonstrator is expected in early 2025.
The project is led by a single French SME, Infinite Orbits, representing 100% of the industry ratio. This lean structure suggests a highly focused commercial drive, utilizing a direct path from patented R&D to market application without the complexity of academic partners.
Contact Infinite Orbits (France) regarding their autonomous vision-based navigation patents.
Contact us to connect with Infinite Orbits for satellite life extension partnerships.
