Astroscale

Astroscale is a company dedicated to the long-term sustainability of space, providing on-orbit services for satellites. Founded in 2013 by Mitsunobu "Nobu" Okada, the company's mission is to address the growing problem of space debris and create a sustainable environment for future space operations. Okada, an IT entrepreneur, was inspired to start the company after attending a space development conference where space junk was a major topic, yet no concrete action plans were presented. He established Astroscale just ten days later.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Astroscale has a global presence with subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Israel. The company has secured significant funding, raising a total of approximately $383 million as of October 2023. It became a publicly traded company in June 2024.

Astroscale's business model is centered on providing services to both governmental and commercial entities. This includes contracts with space agencies like JAXA, the UK Space Agency, and the European Space Agency, as well as partnerships with private satellite operators such as Eutelsat OneWeb. The company offers a range of in-orbit solutions, including: * **End-of-Life (EOL) Services:** This service involves removing defunct satellites from orbit. The End-of-Life Services by Astroscale (ELSA) program is designed to capture and de-orbit satellites. The ELSA-d demonstration mission, launched in March 2021, successfully tested the core technologies for docking and removal. The next generation, ELSA-M, is designed to retire multiple client satellites in a single mission. * **Active Debris Removal (ADR):** Astroscale develops solutions to capture and remove existing space debris, such as rocket upper stages and other large objects that were not designed for retrieval. The Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) mission, launched in February 2024, is the world's first attempt to approach and inspect a large piece of debris. * **Life Extension (LEX):** The company is developing services to extend the operational life of satellites, including in-orbit refueling. The Life Extension In-orbit (LEXI) servicer is planned for a 2026 launch to provide these services in geostationary orbit. * **In-Situ Space Situational Awareness (ISSA):** Astroscale analyzes data to better understand the space environment and safely remove defunct satellites. This involves monitoring and characterizing space objects to improve rendezvous and proximity operations.

To facilitate its services, Astroscale has developed a docking plate that can be attached to satellites before launch, enabling future servicing or removal. The company positions itself as a technology and service provider, working with government and commercial stakeholders to define regulations and incentives for the responsible use of space.

Keywords: on-orbit servicing, space debris removal, satellite life extension, end-of-life services, active debris removal, space situational awareness, sustainable space, rendezvous and proximity operations, ELSA-d, ADRAS-J, satellite servicing, space junk, orbital debris, geostationary orbit, low Earth orbit, satellite refueling, docking plate, space sustainability, space environment, orbital services, satellite inspection, de-orbiting, space robotics, commercial space, JAXA, UK Space Agency