ADRAS-J

Astroscale Japan shipped the commercial debris inspection demonstration satellite ADRAS-J from its satellite manufacturing facility in Tokyo, Japan to Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) awarded Tokyo-based Astroscale a contract in 2020 for the ADRAS-J mission as part of its two-phase Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration project.

A Rocket Lab Electron will launch ADRAS-J from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand in 2023.

Astroscale plans to launch an ADRAS-J inspection spacecraft on Rocket Lab in 2023 ahead of a removal attempt that could take place in 2025.

During the ADRAS-J mission, Astroscale will implement safety and transparency measures based on the "Guidelines on a License to Operate a Spacecraft Performing On-Orbit Servicing" issued by the Japanese government in November 2021.

Astroscale Japan will launch the ADRAS-J satellite later in 2023 to rendezvous with and inspect a 3-tonne upper-stage H-IIA rocket body as part of JAXA’s Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) Project.

The suspension of Rocket Lab launches following the 2023-09-19 Electron failure is keeping ADRAS-J on the ground pending Rocket Lab’s return to flight.

Astroscale Japan Inc. shipped its commercial debris inspection demonstration satellite ADRAS-J from its satellite manufacturing facility in Tokyo, Japan to Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on 2023-10-04.

ADRAS-J was shipped from Astroscale Japan’s headquarters in Tokyo in October 2023 for final launch preparations at Rocket Lab’s facilities.

Astroscale’s ADRAS-J spacecraft launched on 2024-02-18.

Astroscale released an image of the H‑2A upper stage taken by ADRAS-J on 2024-04-26.