Technology12 Aug 2026SEO 801 min read

Analysis: Northrop’s robot space mechanic is a new way to keep satellites at work longer

High above the Earth, a new generation of robots designed to keep satellites working longer is replacing its predecessor — quite literally. This week, a spacec…

High above the Earth, a new generation of robots designed to keep satellites working longer is replacing its predecessor — quite literally. This week, a spacecraft built and operated by Northrop Grumman called a Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) unplugged from a communications satellite operated by the Australian firm Optus. For more than a year, the MEV spacecraft has been stuck to the back of the Optus satellite, keeping it in the right place in space so it can continue its mission. Now, the sa…

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