“As far as we know, no one’s ever shifted fuel from one tank to another with a tank design like ours in a satellite in orbit, and we want to take as much time as necessary to minimise any risk to the mission.” The team at ESA plan to keep XMM flying well into its 3rd decade!
Teaching an old satellite new tricks
XMM-Newton is one of Europe’s longest-flying and most productive orbiting observatories, investigating the hot X-ray Universe. Thanks to teamwork and technical Innovation, it’s on track to keep flying for a long time yet.
