Company - Astroscale
Product/Service
- Classification
- In-Space Transportation
- Category
- Active Debris Removal (ADR)
On-Orbit Servicing
Propellant Refilling
Propellant Refuel Station
- Fields
- End of Life (EOL)
In-Space Satellite Servicing
Transport Service (In-Space)
On-Orbit Servicing
- Status
- Development
- First launch
- 2020
Proposing to aid in the removal of orbital debris through the provision of End of Life (EOL) and Active Debris Removal (ADR) services.
- End-Of-Life - for defunct satellites pre-engineered for servicing
- Active Debris Removal - of large, non-prepared threatening debris currently in orbit
- Life Extension - to keep GEO satellites in operation after fuel depletion
- In Situ SSA/Inspection - to diagnose and characterize objects
ELSA-D
Astroscale’s ELSA-d Finalizes De-Orbit Operations Marking Successful Mission Conclusion, 2024-01-24.
- ELSA-d was the world’s first commercial mission to prove the core technologies necessary for on-orbit satellite servicing in low Earth orbit (LEO). The mission, which consisted of two satellites — a servicer designed to safely remove debris from orbit and a client that serves as a piece of replica debris — was launched as a stack from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in March 2021.
- ELSA-d was the world’s first commercial mission to prove the core technologies necessary for on-orbit satellite servicing in low Earth orbit (LEO). The mission, which consisted of two satellites — a servicer designed to safely remove debris from orbit and a client that serves as a piece of replica debris — was launched as a stack from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in March 2021.
ELSA-M
The Astroscale-UK company has unveiled its concept to remove a defunct British satellite from orbit.
- The Oxfordshire-based company wants to send up a sophisticated robot arm to grab hold of the dead hardware.
- This junk would then be sent downwards to burn up in the atmosphere.
- The UK government is running a competition to find the best solution to clear up historic debris. The winner will run demonstrate its technology in late 2026 or early 2027.
ADRAS-J
Astroscale’s ADRAS-J Completes Successful Rendezvous and Initiates Proximity Approach, 2024-04-11.
Astroscale spacecraft continues inspection of upper stage, 2024-07-09.
- Astroscale announced July 9 that its Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) spacecraft conducted a “fly around” maneuver, going part way around the H-2A upper stage it has been inspecting for the last few months. ADRAS-J used sensors to maintain a distance of just 50 meters from the stage.
- However, about one third of the way through the maneuver, ADRAS-J encountered what the company called an “unexpected attitude anomaly” that triggered an automatic abort. The spacecraft moved away from the stage as designed to avoid any risk of a collision.
- In addition to being a technical demonstration of rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), Okada said ADRAS-J was a policy demonstration, following guidelines for on-orbit servicing released by the Japanese government for safety and transparency. That included getting appropriate permissions, emphasizing safe operations and sharing information about spacecraft operations.
Astroscale Prototype Servicer for Refueling (APS-R)
LEXI
Astroscale reveals concept of operations for its in-orbit refueling vehicle, SpaceNews, 2024-01-17
- Astroscale is developing an in-space refueling vehicle that will shuttle back and forth between a fuel depot in geostationary Earth orbit and a client satellite.
- Named APS-R, for Astroscale Prototype Servicer for Refueling, the vehicle will be a small satellite about the size of a gas pump, designed to conduct multiple refueling missions in GEO.
- APS-R will rendezvous and dock with a fuel depot operated by Orbit Fab, a startup developing so-called gas stations in space. The company is working on a hydrazine fueling station to be deployed 36,000 kilometers above Earth, partly funded by a $13.3 million contract from the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit.
- According to Astroscale’s concept of operations, a potential client satellite receiving fuel could be the company’s Life Extension In-Orbit (LEXI), designed to perform life extension services in geostationary orbit. Astroscale two years ago announced plans to launch LEXI in 2026 and signed an agreement with Orbit Fab for refueling services.
News
- The companies said July 2023 the first docking plate would be attached to an undisclosed satellite later this year for a launch in the fourth quarter of 2024.
- It is the first time 10-year-old Astroscale has announced a commercial partnership for the hardware, as work continues to demonstrate how upcoming servicers could perform de-orbit and life-extension missions after latching onto the docking plate.
Satellites could become more sustainable, thanks to new UK Space Agency funding, 2024-02-09
- Contracts have been awarded to Astroscale, ClearSpace and Orbit Fab for refuelling research:
- Astroscale will adapt their existing ‘COSMIC’ debris removal spacecraft to a new refuelling servicer product, partnering with TAS, Airbus Defence & Space, Orbit Fab and GMV.
Status Comment / Notes
Astro Digital to integrate Astroscale in-orbit servicing docking plates, SpaceNews, 2023-08-01.
- ELSA-d’s 175-kilogram servicer later lost the use of half its thrusters in early 2022, forcing Astroscale to scrap plans to recapture and de-orbit the 17-kilogram client craft.
- The End of Life Services by Astroscale-multiple mission (ELSA-m), delayed from 2024, would be designed to capture multiple satellites of up to 800 kilograms in a single mission, although follow-on clients have not been announced.
- In 2025, Astroscale plans to send a larger servicer to LEO with a mass of a few hundred kilograms to capture and de-orbit a defunct 150-kilogram OneWeb satellite, which has a compatible magnetic docking plate the Japanese venture did not provide.
- Under a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) contract, Astroscale plans to use a spacecraft launching on a Rocket Lab Electron later this year to inspect a discarded upper stage of a Japanese H2-A rocket.
Product/Service
- Classification
- Miscellaneous
- Category
- Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
- Status
- Development
- First launch
- 2020
Created: 2023-07-14
Updated: 2023-08-17
Sources
Most sources should be linked in the texts and headings as revealed by mouse-over, but here are they listed for visibility.
News, Research, Projects and Patents
| Title | Type | Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financing Astroscale | Report | 2024-05-04 | |
| Astroscale ships its space junk removal demonstration satellite for March 2021 mission | News | 2020-12-22 | > Japanese startup Astroscale has shipped its ELSA-d spacecraft to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazahkstan, where it will be integrated with a Soyuz rocket for a launch scheduled for March of next year. This is a crucial mission for Astroscale, since it’ll be the first in-space demonstration of the company’s technology for de-orbiting space debris, a cornerstone of its proposed space sustainability service business. |
| Astroscale moving into GEO satellite servicing market | News, Acquisition | 2020-06-03 | > Astroscale announced June 3 it is acquiring the intellectual property of the satellite-servicing company Effective Space Solutions. The move positions Astroscale’s U.S. subsidiary to become a direct competitor to Northrop Grumman in the geostationary satellite servicing market. |
Similar Organizations
Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Space Traffic Management, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Resources - Space Debris Utilization, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Active, Concept
Square Rocket
Resources - Asteroid Mining, Microgravity Workspaces, Space Tug, Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
ClearSpace-1
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Tug
Development
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Tug, Orbital Transportation
Development
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
Development
Arachne Platform, Space Exploration and Resource Vehicle (SERV)
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Mining, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Development
Carousel Spacelab
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Science
Early stage, ?
KLNR-LEO
Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Dormant
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Resources - Space Debris Utilization
Concept
SPRINT, SPEAR
Resources - Energy, Nuclear Radioisotope Power, Solar Thermal Propulsion, Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Concept
Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing
Development
VEDA (Vehicle for life-Extension and Deorbiting Activities), RIG (Robotic Insert for satellite Guidance)
On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Commercial Space Station, Satellite Life Extension
Development
PRISM
Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Early stage
REACCH
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Resources - Space Debris Utilization
Development
SpaceDREAM
Robotic Arm, Hardware, In-Space Assembly, On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Robotics
Development
ARCap Module
On-Orbit Servicing, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Active Debris Removal (ADR), In-Orbit Inspection, Space Tug, Hardware, Docking
Development
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Power Beaming, In-Space Assembly
Early stage
Automated Deorbiting-Block system (PAD-B)
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Resources - Space Debris Utilization, Hardware
Concept
DEORBIT
Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Assembly, Orbital Transportation
Development
RPOD Kit
Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, Hardware, Docking
Development
Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
Satko
Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
Active Debris Removal (ADR), In-Orbit Inspection, Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
Early stage
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Robotics
Early stage
Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Early stage
Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Concept
Crow's Nest, Pono
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
Development, Launched
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Robotics
Early stage, ?
Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Concept
IOSHEXA
Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
AstroLab
Space Tug, Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Logistics
Early stage
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
Early stage
OT-S, Optimus-1
Space Tug, In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Logistics, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), In-Space Mobility, Active Debris Removal (ADR), In-Space Assembly, Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
Development
Smart Drone
Space Tug, Orbital Transportation, On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Robotic Arm
Early stage
Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Early stage
Otter
Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Satellite Life Extension, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Hardware
Development, Launched
Worker Bee, Sutter Space Telescope
Space Tug, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Resources - Asteroid Mining, Propellant Refuel Station, Space Mining, In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Propellant Refilling, Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
Droid
Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
Development, Launched
Bulldog Servicer
On-Orbit Servicing
Concept, Acquired
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production, On-Orbit Servicing
Early stage
Quark
Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Resources - Energy, On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Development
Supplemental Service Vehicle
On-Orbit Servicing, Satellite Life Extension
Development
Active Space Servicer
On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Space Robotics
Early stage
Hermes
On-Orbit Servicing
Concept
On-Orbit Servicing, Reusable Satellite, Space Robotics
Early stage
Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing
Development
OrbitGuard
On-Orbit Servicing, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), In-Orbit Inspection
Development, Launched
VEDA (Vehicle for life-Extension and Deorbiting Activities), RIG (Robotic Insert for satellite Guidance)
On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Commercial Space Station, Satellite Life Extension
Development
Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Space Robotics, On-Orbit Servicing
Development
SpaceDREAM
Robotic Arm, Hardware, In-Space Assembly, On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Robotics
Development
ARCap Module
On-Orbit Servicing, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Active Debris Removal (ADR), In-Orbit Inspection, Space Tug, Hardware, Docking
Development
ARAM
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Robotic Arm, On-Orbit Servicing
Development
DEORBIT
Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Assembly, Orbital Transportation
Development
SpiderFab, OSAM-1, SAMPLR
On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Assembly, Robotic Arm
Development, Cancelled
Canadaarm3, SKYMAKER
On-Orbit Servicing, Space Robotics, Commercial Rover, Resources - Energy, In-Space Assembly, In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV)
On-Orbit Servicing
Active
RPOD Kit
Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, Hardware, Docking
Development
Standard Interface Docking and Refueling Port (SIDRP)
On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Early stage
Satko
Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
Tetra-5
On-Orbit Servicing, In-Orbit Inspection, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Development
EROSS+, ORBITA, TITAN, PRO-ACT
On-Orbit Servicing, Robotic Arm, Hardware, Space Robotics, In-Space Assembly
Development
Space Truck
Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Orbital Transportation
Cancelled, Development
Ranger
Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Communications Relay, In-Space Manufacturing, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Orbit Inspection, Beyond-LEO Remote Sensing, In-Space Logistics, Transport Service (LEO-GEO)
Development
Orbots
Space Robotics, On-Orbit Servicing, Orbital Transportation
Development, Launched
AstroLab
Space Tug, Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Logistics
Early stage
RoWo
Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform, In-Space Assembly, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), On-Orbit Servicing
Development
Smart Drone
Space Tug, Orbital Transportation, On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Robotic Arm
Early stage
Robotic Arm, Hardware, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), On-Orbit Servicing
Early stage, Dormant
Otter
Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Satellite Life Extension, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Hardware
Development, Launched
Refabricator, SpiderFab, LEO Knight
In-Space Manufacturing, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Assembly, In-Space Communications Relay, Robotic Arm
Cancelled, Launched, Acquired
Start, Cis-Lunar Transfer Vehicle (CLTV), IMAGIN-e
Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, In-Orbit Computing
Development
ROAMER
On-Orbit Servicing, Hardware, Orbital Transportation, Robotic Arm, In-Space Assembly
Early stage
ThinkPlatform-1
Commercial Space Station, Space Construction Company, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), On-Orbit Servicing, Space Tug
Development
Droid
Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
Development, Launched
Argonaut
Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Propellant Refilling, Space Mining
Development
Quark
Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Resources - Energy, On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Development
Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station
Development
Geoengineering, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Space Mining, Resources - Asteroid Mining
Development
Hardware, Commercial Lunar Lander, Propellant Refilling
Development
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Commercial Space Station, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Concept
Active Space Servicer
On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Space Robotics
Early stage
Antaios
Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Dormant
Fuel Shuttle
Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station
Development, Launched
Standard Interface Docking and Refueling Port (SIDRP)
On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Early stage
P3 (Power, Prospecting and Propellant)
Resources - Energy, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Lunar Power Service, Lunar Electric Grid
Development
Tetra-5
On-Orbit Servicing, In-Orbit Inspection, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Development
ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Early stage
Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station
Development
Black Bay
Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Reusable Satellite
Dormant, Bankrupt
Resources - Oxygen, Propellant Refuel Station, Hardware, Propellant Refilling
Concept
Start, Cis-Lunar Transfer Vehicle (CLTV), IMAGIN-e
Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, In-Orbit Computing
Development
Worker Bee, Sutter Space Telescope
Space Tug, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Resources - Asteroid Mining, Propellant Refuel Station, Space Mining, In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Propellant Refilling, Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
Spacecraft On-Orbit Advanced Refueling and Storage (SOARS)
Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Dormant, Development
Quark
Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Resources - Energy, On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Development
Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station
Development
Geoengineering, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Space Mining, Resources - Asteroid Mining
Development
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Commercial Space Station, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Concept
Active Space Servicer
On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Space Robotics
Early stage
Antaios
Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Dormant
Fuel Shuttle
Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station
Development, Launched
Standard Interface Docking and Refueling Port (SIDRP)
On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Early stage
P3 (Power, Prospecting and Propellant)
Resources - Energy, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Lunar Power Service, Lunar Electric Grid
Development
Tetra-5
On-Orbit Servicing, In-Orbit Inspection, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Development
ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Early stage
Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station
Development
Black Bay
Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Reusable Satellite
Dormant, Bankrupt
Resources - Oxygen, Propellant Refuel Station, Hardware, Propellant Refilling
Concept
Start, Cis-Lunar Transfer Vehicle (CLTV), IMAGIN-e
Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, In-Orbit Computing
Development
Worker Bee, Sutter Space Telescope
Space Tug, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Resources - Asteroid Mining, Propellant Refuel Station, Space Mining, In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Propellant Refilling, Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
Spacecraft On-Orbit Advanced Refueling and Storage (SOARS)
Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Dormant, Development