Maneuver rescues satellite low on fuel

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A satellite launched in October -- Northrop Grummans Mission Extension Vehicle -- will serve as a guide dog of sorts for its aging Intelsat companion. Company officials called it a historic moment for space commerce, akin to the three-spacewalker capture of a wayward Intelsat satellite 28 years ago. "Were pushing the boundaries of what many thought would be impossible," said Tom Wilson, president of SpaceLogistics, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman. Intelsat chief executive Stephen Spengler said "there was a solid business case" for undertaking the salvage attempt with five more years of operation ahead for the satellite. An attached rocket motor ended up propelling the satellite from a low altitude to its proper orbit.

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Intelsat

$1M to $5M