US-based International Launch Services (ILS) and the UK’s Effective Space have unveiled their intent to partner to launch two satellite servicing drones into space.

Under the agreement, an ILS Proton Breeze M rocket is expected to launch Effective Space’s SPACE DRONE spacecraft into orbit from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The proposed launch is scheduled to take place in 2020, marking the first deployment of the SPACE DRONE spacecraft.

ILS president Kirk Pysher said: “ILS is focused on serving the satellite industry with flexible, and affordable launch solutions and our agreement with Effective Space is a perfect example of that.

“The spacecraft is designed to use electric propulsion to take over the station-keeping and attitude-control manoeuvres of the joint stack.”

“The performance of the Proton Breeze M vehicle to deliver the SPACE DRONE spacecraft directly to geostationary orbit combined with our decades-long history of launching dual or multiple spacecraft at one time makes it a natural fit for Proton to deploy their spacecraft.

“This combination of performance and experience will enable Effective Space to realise their mission objective in the most expedient and effective way possible.”

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The 400kg SPACE DRONE is a 1m x 1m x 1.25m spacecraft that features a universal, non-intrusive docking system to assemble at the geostationary host satellite.

The spacecraft is designed to use electric propulsion to take over the station-keeping and attitude-control manoeuvers of the joint stack.

It is also capable of conducting various missions, including station-keeping, relocation, deorbiting, orbit correction, inclination correction and ‘bringing into use’ (BIU).

Effective Space founder and CEO Arie Halsband said: “Launching our first two SPACE DRONE spacecraft into a geostationary orbit is part of our strong commitment to our first customer, meeting mission timeline and ensuring smooth transition into a life-extension service.”

The company aims to launch up to six SPACE DRONE spacecraft into space annually.