Astroscale Launches World's First Space Debris Removal Satellite

ADRAS-J successfully launched (photo: dock. Astroscale)

JAKARTA – Astroscale Japan, a private space debris removal company, has successfully launched a debris removal satellite called Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J).

The satellite was launched with Rocket's Electron rocket on Sunday, February 18 at around 21.52 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB). ADRAS-J lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and is now in orbit.

ADRAS-J Project Manager Eijiro Atarashi confirmed that Astroscale's Mission Operations team successfully made contact with the satellite. ADRAS-J will be deployed to dispose of H-2A rocket bodies in the near future.

“This achievement marks the start of our mission and we are excited to survey and characterize actual debris through our innovative Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) capabilities,” said Eijiro.

In line with Eijiro's statement, President and Managing Director of Astroscale Japan, Eddie Kato, said that ADRAS-J was a new chapter for his company. The role of this satellite is very important for Astroscale's sustainability.

“ADRAS-J is very important to us as a company and to the entire sector because the mission will demonstrate critical RPO capabilities for future orbital services. "Thank you to the entire Astroscale team, JAXA, our partners and supporters for their commitment and dedication to getting us to this point," said Eddie.

ADRAS-J is the world's first debris removal satellite. In the next few days, the satellite will check orbit to look for the H-2A rocket belonging to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The H-2A rocket was launched in 2009 and has no GPS data making it difficult for JAXA to find. During the search, ADRAS-J will use ground-based observation data to determine the rocket's position.

Over the next few months, ADRAS-J will be deployed for the next stage, namely meeting the H-2A rocket, approaching the rocket, then bringing the rocket back into the atmosphere until the de-orbit process is complete.