Satellite operator SES has signed an agreement with French startup Infinite Orbits for a life-extension mission involving one geostationary satellite, marking the first commercial satellite life-extension operation in Europe, the companies said on Thursday.
The mission will use Endurance™, a 750kg servicing vehicle developed by Infinite Orbits to provide in-orbit support functions including station keeping, attitude control, orbital relocation, and end-of-life disposal. The vehicle is scheduled to launch in late 2027, followed by an in-orbit demonstration before docking with an SES-owned GEO satellite.
Infinite Orbits said Endurance is designed to give operators added flexibility in managing assets as global demand for long-lived satellite capacity increases.
“We started Infinite Orbits with a focused goal to master a set of technologies allowing for competitive in-orbit services,” said Adel Haddoud, CEO of Infinite Orbits. “To change the way we use space, in-orbit services must not only be safe, but they must also be compatible with our customers’ needs.” He added that offering operators more options is essential to “promote a more sustainable approach to space.”
SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh said the mission aligns with the company’s long-term operational strategy. “Extending the operational life of our GEO satellites is important for delivering continued value to customers and optimizing satellite economics,” he said. “We are excited to collaborate with Infinite Orbits to enable responsible use of space while ensuring long-term service continuity.”
The partnership reflects a growing interest among global satellite operators in in-orbit servicing, driven by both sustainability concerns and the high cost of deploying replacements for aging spacecraft.
