Orbital Lasers (Sky Perfect JSAT)

Founded
Country
1985
Japan
Funding
Yes, ?
Website
https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/
Social
Orbital Lasers (Sky Perfect JSAT)

Product/Service

Classification
Miscellaneous
Category
Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Status
Development
First launch
Not announced

Satellite for Removing Space Debris with a Laser. SKY Perfect JSAT has partnered with RIKEN, Nagoya University and Kyushu University to start the design and development of the world’s first* satellite that uses a laser to remove space debris such as nonfunctional satellites. Services are scheduled to begin in 2026. During the early-phase of the study, JSAT will be supported by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Although there are various methods for removing space debris, JSAT decided to use the laser method*2, which has the two notable advantages listed below.

Through cooperation with RIKEN, which has a record of fundamental development for lasers, JSAT confirmed the feasibility of the technology by conducting a propulsion generation experiment*3 using laser ablation*4. In order to develop the main mission equipment for the satellite, the Satellite Orbital State Control Laser Laboratory was officially established in April 2020 as an integrated collaborative research system team within RIKEN.

Through collaboration with Nagoya University and Kyushu University, the Laboratory will design and develop (including review) of a laser-equipped satellite. Besides the laser mission equipment and satellite development led by JSAT, an early-phase concept study of satellite and ground systems will be cooperatively performed under the framework of the JAXA Space Innovation through Partnership and Co-creation (J-SPARC) program.

JSAT oversees the development of movement (removal) services using space lasers for nonfunctional satellites, etc., and supervises the overall satellite development. Tadanori Fukushima, the leader of the JSAT debris removal project, oversees the development of these services and also serves as team leader of the Satellite Orbital State Control Laser Laboratory (discussed below) that was established within RIKEN.

In April 2020, the Satellite Orbital State Control Laser Laboratory was established within RIKEN as a team* containing members from JSAT and RIKEN. The laboratory develops the laser ablation subsystem, which is the main mission equipment of the satellite.

Similar Organizations

Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Space Traffic Management, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Resources - Space Debris Utilization, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)

Aldoria (Share My Space)

Active, Concept

Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station

Astroscale

Development

Square Rocket

Resources - Asteroid Mining, Microgravity Workspaces, Space Tug, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Bradford Space (Deep Space Industries)

Development

ClearSpace-1

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Tug

ClearSpace

Development

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Tug, Orbital Transportation

Dark

Development

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

EOS Space Systems

Development

Arachne Platform, Space Exploration and Resource Vehicle (SERV)

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Mining, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)

ExLabs (Exploration Laboratories)

Development

Carousel Spacelab

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Science

Exodus Space Systems

Early stage, ?

KLNR-LEO

Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Future Space Industries

Dormant

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Resources - Space Debris Utilization

Glycan Space (Group)

Concept

SPRINT, SPEAR

Resources - Energy, Nuclear Radioisotope Power, Solar Thermal Propulsion, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Howe Industries

Concept

Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing

iMetalX

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

InspeCity

Development

PRISM

Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Ironstar Engineering (PRISM)

Early stage

REACCH

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Resources - Space Debris Utilization

Kall Morris Inc (KMI)

Development

SpaceDREAM

Robotic Arm, Hardware, In-Space Assembly, On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Robotics

KINETIK Space

Development

ARCap Module

On-Orbit Servicing, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Active Debris Removal (ADR), In-Orbit Inspection, Space Tug, Hardware, Docking

Kurs Orbital

Development

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Power Beaming, In-Space Assembly

Light Mirror

Early stage

Automated Deorbiting-Block system (PAD-B)

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Resources - Space Debris Utilization, Hardware

Magdrive

Concept

DEORBIT

Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Assembly, Orbital Transportation

Martian Sky Industries (MSI)

Development

RPOD Kit

Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, Hardware, Docking

Obruta Space Solutions

Development

Orbital Recovery

Orbital Life Extension Vehicle (OLEV)

Satellite Life Extension, Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing

Orbital Recovery

Dormant

Satko

Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Orbital.Express

Development

Active Debris Removal (ADR), In-Orbit Inspection, Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

OrbitGuardians

Early stage

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Robotics

Orbotic Systems

Early stage

Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

OSMOS X

Development

Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Paladin Space

Early stage

Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Poulos Air & Space

Concept

Crow's Nest, Pono

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

Privateer Space

Development, Launched

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Robotics

Prometheus Space Technologies

Early stage, ?

Active Debris Removal (ADR)

Rubicon

Concept

IOSHEXA

Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Active Debris Removal (ADR)

SAB Launch Services

Development

AstroLab

Space Tug, Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Logistics

Scout Aerospace

Early stage

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

Space Debris DAO (SpaceDebrisDAO)

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)

Space Machines Company

Development

Smart Drone

Space Tug, Orbital Transportation, On-Orbit Servicing, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Robotic Arm

SpaceDrone

Early stage

Space Tug, In-Space Logistics, Active Debris Removal (ADR)

SpaceTug (Hyoristic Innovations)

Early stage

Otter

Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, Satellite Life Extension, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Hardware

Starfish Space

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)

TransAstra (Trans Astronautics Corporation)

Development

Droid

Active Debris Removal (ADR), On-Orbit Servicing, Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

Turion Space

Development, Launched