Astroscale is a public, on-orbit servicing company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, committed to the safe and sustainable development of space. As the first private company dedicated to in-orbit servicing across all orbits, Astroscale develops innovative solutions for end-of-life services, active debris removal, in-situ space situational awareness, and life extension of satellites. They work with government and commercial stakeholders like JAXA, U.S. Space Force, ESA, and OneWeb to develop norms and technologies for responsible space operations, aiming to mitigate the growing hazard of space debris.
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Astroscale performed a test of its End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (ELSA-d) spacecraft on 2021-08-25.
Astroscale’s ELSA-d successfully captured its client spacecraft using the servicer’s magnetic capture system during the 2021-08-25 (UTC) demonstration.
Astroscale is developing a servicer spacecraft called Life Extension In-Orbit to dock with geostationary satellites and take over stationkeeping and attitude control similar to Northrop Grumman’s Mission Extension Vehicle.
Astroscale’s U.S. office opened in April 2019 and now has 30 to 35 people working on the life-extension program.
Astroscale’s End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (ELSA-d) successfully tested its ability to capture its client spacecraft using the servicer’s magnetic capture system on 2021-08-25 (UTC).
Astroscale’s ELSA-d tested its magnetic capture system to capture its client spacecraft on Wednesday, 2021-08-25 (UTC).
Astroscale’s ground station in Japan is cooperating with ground stations operated by U.S.-based Atlas Space Operations and Viasat, Norway-based KSAT, and Sweden’s SSC.
Astroscale launched two spacecraft for the ELSA-d mission on 2021-03-22 aboard a Soyuz-2 rocket and they are performing tests in preparation for a series of maneuvers 2021 to demonstrate the company’s capabilities.
On 2021-07-27, Astroscale Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to cooperate on active debris removal and other projects for improving space environmental protection.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry awarded Astroscale Inc. a contract under the 2019-10-01 supplementary Space Development and Utilization Promotion Research and Development program for development of general-purpose extravehicular robotic arm and hand technologies.
Astroscale Inc. develops technologies for debris removal services as part of efforts to achieve space sustainability.
Astroscale Inc. will work to establish business models and address legal and regulatory issues related to debris removal and on-orbit services.
Two companies, including Astroscale Inc., were selected for the 2019-10-01 supplementary program to develop extravehicular robotic arm and hand technologies.
Astroscale Inc. is a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings that manufactures and develops satellites.
Astroscale is one of two companies selected by METI for a three-year contract budgeted up to $2,500,000 for the Japanese fiscal year April 2020 to March 2021 to research and develop robotic hands and arms, autonomous control, and interfaces to replace robotic hands.
Astroscale is an orbital debris removal and satellite servicing company.
Astroscale and Starfish Space are developing servicing businesses aimed at multiple orbits.
Astroscale launched an ELSA-d servicer spacecraft to low Earth orbit in March 2021 to perform end-to-end tests for in-orbit debris removal.
Northrop Grumman and Astroscale offer space tugs that dock with already launched satellites to change orbits, increase fuel reserves, or enable safe deorbiting.
Astroscale sought 20–30 minutes of connectivity using four partners in 16 locations for the ELSA-d demonstrations, compared with a typical LEO mission connectivity of 5–15 minutes with one or two providers.