Intelsat selected MDA in March to service and extend the life of its on-orbit satellites via MDA’s space-based service vehicle in a contract valued at more than $280 million.

   In a company statement, MDA said that extending the requirements definition phase would give the company, “an opportunity to better understand the changes necessary to address the balance between potential commercial and government customers, to evaluate whether NASA intends to fund a competing solution to our commercial initiative, and to advance the dialogue with regulators, customers and suppliers.” 

   MDA plans to launch its Space Infrastructure Servicing vehicle into near geosynchronous orbit, where it will service commercial and government satellites in need of additional fuel, repositioning or other maintenance. At the time the contract was announced, MDA and Intelsat said the companies would finalize specifications and other requirements in the next six months before both parties authorize the build phase of the program.

   “Since March, MDA has been engaged in extensive discussions with potential government and commercial customers and regulators,” MDA officials said.