Optus milestone success in ‘Space Tug’ project
August 18, 2026

By Chris Forrester



“Forty years ago, when Optus launched its first satellite, the model was simple: build it, launch it and use it until the fuel ran out. That model is changing,” said the company’s GM, Harvey Wright, in a post celebrating the completion of the first phase project Aurora.

The Aurora project is for a satellite space rescue mission of an existing orbiting satellite.


The target satellite is the Australia’s Optus D3 craft.

The ‘Space Tug’ rescue satellite is Northrop Grumman’s Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) and its Mission Extension Pod. The MRV is on its way to its orbital rendezvous which is expected later in 2026.

The intention is to link the MRV with Optus D3 and act as an additional fuel source and extend the satellite’s life by about six years.

“These milestones demonstrate how innovative technologies can maximise the value of existing satellite assets while supporting long-term service continuity for customers,” added Wright.

The news coincides with a report from analysts at Novaspace which states that maritime satellite service revenues – including space rescue missions – is expected to generate $3 billion in service transaction value over the next decade, reflecting growing interest in capabilities that can extend satellite lifetimes and enable more dynamic space operations.

“Growing congestion, competition, and uncertainty in space are pushing satellite operators to seek greater operational resilience and flexibility,” said Gabriel Deville, Manager at Novaspace. “The sector is developing in-orbit services to address these challenges, but the market remains at varying levels of maturity, ranging from concepts to early commercial operations.”