Commercial and Civil Robotic Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Fact Sheet
Over the past two decades, several countries have begun developing rendezvous and proximity (RPO) technologies for non-military purposes such as satellite inspection, refueling, repairs, on-orbit assembly, and debris removal. In addition to government-funded programs, companies have also begun developing, testing, and operationalizing capabilities to provide commercial on-orbit satellite servicing capabilities such as life extension, repair, refueling, and inspection. In January 2020, the first commercial satellite servicing mission successfully docked with and repositioned a commercial communications satellite in the geosynchronous region. In early 2022, China successfully removed a dead satellite from GEO to the graveyard region. Several additional commercial/ civil demonstrations and operational missions are planned over the next few years.
