Eutelsat Hires Infinite Orbits for GEO Satellite Life
Eutelsat has contracted Infinite Orbits to extend the operational life of at least one of its geostationary satellites, marking the servicing firm's third
French satellite operator Eutelsat has signed a deal with compatriot servicing company Infinite Orbits to prolong the life of at least one geostationary satellite. The agreement was announced on the sidelines of the International Space Summit in Paris.
This is the third life-extension mission order for Infinite Orbits, following a 2023 agreement with SES and a similar 2024 contract with Hispasat. The company's CEO, Adel Haddoud, told Payload that GEO operators now universally understand the value of life extension. He stated the company is ready to scale industrially and that its customers are prepared to order more missions.
The Endurance Servicing Mission
Eutelsat operates a fleet of 31 satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO), with at least one nearing its planned end of life. Infinite Orbits is developing a spacecraft called Endurance designed to rendezvous and dock with unprepared GEO satellites. Each Endurance mission can add approximately five years of operational life to a customer's satellite, which typically might function for around 15 years without intervention.
The service allows operators like Eutelsat to continue generating revenue from assets that would otherwise need to be deorbited or moved to a graveyard orbit. Haddoud did not disclose the mission's specific cost but confirmed the business case is favorable for Eutelsat, meaning the service cost is lower than the expected additional revenue from the extended operational period.
Scaling for Anticipated Demand
Infinite Orbits is preparing for an expected surge in demand as more GEO satellites approach retirement. To support increased production, the company this week inaugurated a new 1,000-square-meter satellite assembly, integration, and testing facility in Toulouse, France. This facility will manufacture the company's Orbit Guard inspection satellites and Endurance life-extension vehicles.
Haddoud indicated that the market is beginning to recognize the economic logic of satellite servicing. The company's growing order book from major operators suggests this business case is becoming compelling across the GEO sector.
The Path to Operational Missions
Before executing the life-extension mission for Eutelsat, Infinite Orbits must complete a series of demonstration flights to validate its rendezvous and proximity operations technology. The company has already flown one demonstration mission of its Orbit Guard satellite and has at least three more such tests planned for 2027.
The company's upcoming flight manifest includes diverse missions. One is part of a surveillance contract for the French Ministry of Defence. In partnership with Open Cosmos, Infinite Orbits will also launch two small satellites, named Tom and Jerry, on an Isar Aerospace Spectrum rocket to low Earth orbit to perform close-proximity maneuvers.
The first operational life-extension mission using the Endurance spacecraft is scheduled for SES in 2027, with the Eutelsat mission to follow afterward.
