NRL robotic servicing payload passes thermal vacuum testing and moves closer to launch

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), working with DARPA and Northrop Grumman's SpaceLogistics, has cleared a major space-readiness hurdle for satellite servicing. On Sept. 5, the team completed thermal vacuum testing that validated the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) payload integrated with Northrop Grumman's Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) for the extremes of space.

"This is more than a successful test, we are nearing the culmination of decades of work and partnership that began as a vision for on-orbit servicing and it's exciting to be so close to this technology being space-qualified and ready for flight," said Bernard Kelm, acting director of the Naval Center for Space Technology. "The partnership between NRL's spacecraft engineering expertise, DARPA's vision,