Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) describes the Phoenix program: "The goal of the Phoenix program is to develop and demonstrate technologies to cooperatively harvest and re-use valuable components from retired, nonworking satellites in GEO and demonstrate the ability to create new space systems at greatly reduced cost."
An illustration shows how the proposed DARPA satellite tender would modify a nonworking satellite on orbit.
A DARPA illustration appears to depict a viewscreen with graphics overlaid showing the satellite tender (left) approaching a non-working satellite.
DARPA's Proposed Phoenix satellite tender nears a satellite in orbit.
An artist's illustration shows how DARPA's proposed satellite tender may modify a satellite on orbit.
An artist's illustration shows DARPA's proposed Phoenix program spacecraft working in space.
An artist's illustration shows DARPA's proposed Phoenix program spacecraft approaching a satellite in orbit.
ViviSat and ATK are developing a spacecraft, called the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) to dock to satellites in orbit, and then use its own thrusters to provide propulsion and attitude control.
An artist's illustration of DARPA's Orbital Express spacecraft in orbit, with the ASTRO servicing vehicle (left) bearing down on NextSat.
An artist's conception of how the SIS mobile space gas station will refuel client satellites on orbit.
