Spacecraft Servicing by OHB Systems for German Military: In-Orbit Repair of Bundeswehr Satellites
Space Company OHB Repairs Antennas of Orbiting Bundeswehr Satellites
Bremen-based space company OHB has successfully extended the antennas of two faulty Bundeswehr satellites in orbit, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Federal Defense Ministry. The satellites had been unable to deploy their antennas fully since their deployment a year and a half ago, according to news magazine Der Spiegel.
complex flight procedures
Thestruggletoextendtheantennasrequired"complexflightprocedures",accordingtoastatementfromtheministryspokesperson.Itisnowbeingtestedwhethertheextendedantennacanfulfilltheirpurpose:observingtheEarth'ssurfaceusingradar,eventhroughclouds.
future plansexcussaterepair
Currently, neither the Defense Ministry nor OHB has provided any further details regarding the repair processes, citing national security concerns. It is unclear whether OHB engineers physically repaired the satellites in orbit or if the repairs were only made through remote manipulation.
Project costs, the broader context, and ongoing satellite servicing research were not mentioned in the public information available. OHB has been notably involved in other projects, such as the Heinrich Hertz mission, which involved the construction and launch of a communications satellite for testing new technologies for the German government.
Senator's Response
Bremen's Senator for Economics, Kristina Vogt (Left), praised the engineers at OHB for their achievements. She stated, "What the engineers at OHB have accomplished deserves the utmost respect. This is a strong signal for our space industry. Bremen can handle high-tech, even when it gets really complicated."
Total project costs for Bundeswehr communications constellations and any future plans for in-orbit satellite repairs were not disclosed in the current public information.
The repair processes of the antennas, carried out by OHB in Bremen, have involved complex flight procedures to achieve success. Despite the lack of information regarding the method of repair, Bremen's Senator for Economics, Kristina Vogt, applauded the achievements of the OHB engineers, stating that it is a strong signal for Bremen's growing capabilities in the realm of space-and-astronomy and advanced technology, particularly in the field of science.
