Astroscale Launches World’s First Debris Inspection Spacecraft

Astroscale Japan Inc., a leading entity in satellite servicing and orbital sustainability, has propelled the world into a new era of space exploration with the successful launch of the pioneering Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite.

Launched from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on Sunday, February 18, at 2:52 pm UTC, this groundbreaking achievement marks a significant step forward in addressing the growing issue of space debris.

The ADRAS-J Project Manager, Eijiro Atarashi, announced, “The Astroscale Japan Mission Operations team in Tokyo has successfully made contact with ADRAS-J and is ready to start operations.

“This milestone signals the start of our mission, and we are excited to survey and characterize a real piece of debris through our innovative Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) capabilities.”

Selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (“JAXA”) for Phase I of its Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration program, ADRAS-J is a testament to Astroscale Japan’s commitment to designing, manufacturing, testing, launching, and operating innovative space technologies.

The ADRAS-J mission aims to pioneer the safe approach, characterization, and surveying of existing large debris through RPO techniques. Specifically, it will rendezvous with a Japanese H2A upper stage rocket body, demonstrate proximity operations, and gather vital imagery to assess the rocket body’s condition and movement.

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The President and Managing Director of Astroscale Japan, Eddie Kato, said, “The launch of ADRAS-J is a new chapter in Astroscale’s history as the first mission we have contracted for a space agency to successfully reach orbit. ADRAS-J is monumental for us as a company and for the entire sector as the mission will demonstrate the essential RPO capabilities for future on-orbit services.”

In the days ahead, the ADRAS-J team will conduct further in-orbit tests and checkouts before embarking on rendezvous operations. Notably, the H2A rocket body, launched in 2009, lacks onboard GPS data, posing a unique challenge. ADRAS-J will rely on ground-based observation data to initially approach the rocket body from a safe distance.

The subsequent stages of the mission, including rendezvous, proximity approach, operations, and departure, are slated to unfold over the coming months, showcasing Astroscale’s commitment to advancing space sustainability and debris mitigation efforts.