Finally! Japan Has A Solution To Clean Space Waste

Illustration of Space Waste Photos / Docs. NASA

JAKARTA - Japan plans to launch a satellite that can clean up debris or space debris, which has often disrupted space research from various countries.

Dubbed ADRAS-J, the satellite is hosted by the Tokyo-based Astroscale Japan Inc. with a length and width of 80 centimeters, height 1.2 meters and a weight of about 150 kilograms. ADRAS-J plans to board a commercial rocket from New Zealand at the end of this physical year. The satellite is equipped with several high-performance cameras and laser-distance measurements.

The sophisticated tools will later be used to accurately understand the position and movement of the target debris and approach them safely. Space debris includes remnants of satellites and rockets that have reached the end of their operating period.

After that, Astroscale can develop technology to capture space junk using the ADRAS-J arm and throw it into the Earth's atmosphere, where it will burn.

The satellite will later be placed within a distance of tens of meters from the top of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 15.

H-IIA No.15 is a large rocket launched by the Japan Space Agency (JAXA) in 2009, has a diameter of 4 meters and weighs about 3 metric tons. The rocket is currently orbiting Earth at a speed of about 8 kilometers per second.

According to local Japanese media, Mainichi, Monday, September 11, seeing the large number of countries active in space missions, the number of space junk orbiting Earth has also increased.

However, if it continues, the debris could destroy the International Space Station (ISS) and other missions, which would certainly be dangerous for the safety of astronauts and citizens on Earth, if it falls directionlessly.

Last year alone, the ISS had to carry out maneuvers to prevent collisions with remnants of Russian and Chinese satellites that were no longer used. Unfortunately, until now, no technology has been developed to remove it from orbit.

"The problem of space debris is an urgent matter. We hope this technical demonstration will bring us closer to a solution," said project manager at Astroscale Japan Inc.