Thales Alenia Space Leads In-Orbit Servicing Demonstration Backed by Italian Space Agency – Via Satellite –

Thales Alenia Space, a consortium of space companies, has been awarded a €235m ($256m) contract by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) for an in-orbit servicing demonstration mission. The Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) mission is set to launch by 2026 and will test technologies for future on-orbit servicing missions, including refuelling, component repair or replacement, orbital transfer and atmospheric reentry. The operations will be executed with a robotic arm developed by Leonardo in collaboration with SAB Aerospace, the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) and the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). The satellite platform will be based on D-Orbit’s ION platform, including the refuelling system. Telespazio, working with Altec, will be in charge of the ground segment design, development and validation. Avio will provide design and development activities of the orbital support and propulsion module for the orbital stages.