Astroscale, a Japanese company, has achieved a significant milestone in addressing the growing issue of space debris. Their spacecraft has captured the first portrait of space junk in space, with plans to take even closer images1. The object in question is a discarded rocket segment from Japan’s H-IIA launch vehicle, which is about 11m by 4m and has a mass of three tonnes2.
The spacecraft, called Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J), was launched as part of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency’s space debris removal program. The mission aims to demonstrate the technologies necessary for on-orbit services, including the most challenging rendezvous and proximity operations1.
In April, ADRAS-J photographed the rocket’s upper stage from several hundred meters away, marking the first photo from such an operation. The image shows the lonely rocket body against the darkness of space. Astroscale plans to follow up with a mission where another spacecraft will approach the same rocket body and then deorbit the rocket part using a robotic arm1.
This initiative is a crucial step towards understanding and addressing the challenges posed by space debris, driving progress toward a safer and more sustainable space environment.
A Japanese spacecraft called ADRAS-J, launched in February 2024, has captured the first-ever image of space debris during a rendezvous mission. [1]
This image is a significant step towards addressing the growing problem of space junk in low-Earth orbit, which consists of millions of pieces from old satellites and rocket parts. [2]
The initial image is a distant view of the debris, but ADRAS-J is planned to move in closer and take higher-resolution pictures. [3]
This mission is a collaboration between Astroscale, a private company, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The ultimate goal is to develop technologies to safely remove space debris and create a more sustainable space environment. [5]
Astroscale plans a future mission with another spacecraft that will grapple the debris using a robotic arm and de-orbit it. [2]
