Astroscale Receives IDR 1.3 Trillion Contract To Clean JAXA Space Waste

Astroscale will create ADRAS-J 2 (photo: dock. Astroscale)

JAKARTA Astroscale Japan received a Phase II contract for the Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) Program on August 20. This contract was awarded by the Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA). According to the Astroscale statement, the CRD2 contract is worth 13 billion yen or around Rp1.3 trillion. By signing this contract, Astroscale agreed to build the first technology that could remove large-scale debris from Earth's orbit. The technology made from this contract would be referred to as Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J). The first version of ADRAS-J was launched in February so that this second contract would build the next generation ADRAS-J. The purpose of ADRAS-J 2 development is still the same, namely removing Japanese rocket waste from orbit. The hope is that this technology can address increasingly out of control because many aircraft or rockets are destroyed in space. "Objects that have not been prepared in orbit pose additional challenges because they have not been prepared with any technology that allows doctors or possible improvements or transfers," Astroscale said in its official statement.

Astroscale explained that ADRAS-J 2 will approach the rocket agency observed by the original ADRAS-J. Unlike the first spacecraft that only collects images and assesses the movement of the rocket part, ADRAS-J 2 will move its rocket. Once ADRAS-J 2 is ready to operate, this technology will approach the rocket safely through encounter and proximity operations (RPO). This technology will take continued images, then move the rocket using robotic arms until the de-orbit process occurs.