It is capable of selectable split uplink for Satellite news gathering (SNG), tailored for increased communications demands such as DTH and Internet.

Intelsat 901 was launched by an Ariane 4 from the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guiana on 9 June 2001 at 06:45 UTC.

The move sparked classified meetings within the Department of Defense and heightened suspicions that Olymp-K satellite was performing signals intelligence, or was possibly an anti-satellite weapon.

Its mission is to dock with Intelsat 901 and extend its operational lifespan by performing station-keeping for the aging satellite.

MEV-1 rendezvoused with Intelsat 901, reached out with mechanical fingers, and grabbed the target craft using its liquid propellant engine as a grapple point to pull the two satellites together.