Rocket Lab wins launch rights to Astroscale’s debris removal mission

Edinburgh, 23 September 2021. – Rocket Lab has signed a contract with Astroscale Japan to launch the Active Debris Removal by the Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite.

Astroscale is dedicated to on-orbit servicing across all orbits. Founded in 2013, the company claims to be developing scalable solutions for life extension, in-situ space situational awareness, end-of-life services, and active debris removal.

ADRAS-J, selected by JAXA for Phase I of its Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration Project (CRD2), will be launched by an Electron rocket. This will be one of the first technology demonstrations of large-scale debris removal from orbit. Once deployed, the ADRAS-J satellite is designed to meet with a long abandoned upper stage rocket body.

ADRAS-J will carry out proximity operations and obtain images of the orbital debris. Lift-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 is scheduled for 2023. The second phase of the mission to validate the de-orbiting of the debris is yet to be completed.

#SpaceWatchGL Geopolitics – Thailand Joined the ILRS – Now What?

For SpaceWatchers, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Thailand has manifested several of its space ambitions. SWGL has covered the last decade of the country’s space developments at the government and private sector levels. So, when in early April 2024, Thailand became the latest country to join the China-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program, SWGL assessed it as a significant development in the context of Thailand’s space ambitions. But that needs to be put in perspective. What are the short and long term implications? Let’s find out.

Rocket Lab wins launch rights to Astroscale’s debris removal mission

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