A second spacecraft, MEV-2, will help another Intelsat satellite in 2020 and should have a similar lifespan. Both MEVs are flexible, too. They can dock with 80 percent of current geostationary satellites, even if they weren't designed for servicing.

If the MEV program ramps up, NASA could buy its services going forward. The agency is working on its own in-orbit service tech, such as refueling for satellites in low-Earth orbit.

Vehicles like this could be vital going forward. They'd reduce the need for replacement satellites, of course, but they could also enable missions that wouldn't be practical with existing satellite lifespans. Scientists could conduct longer-term studies, for instance. While satellites ideally wouldn't need this kind of support in the first place, this is one step closer to making them more sustainable.

Update 10/9 11:20AM ET: We've learned that the MEV-1 is a service vehicle, not a refueling vehicle, and we've updated the article accordingly.