Astroscale ADRAS-J Successfully Conducts 2 Fly-Around Observations of Space Debris

Astroscale Japan Inc. ("Astroscale Japan"), a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc. ("Astroscale"), has achieved a remarkable technical milestone in the realm of space debris management.

Their commercial debris inspection demonstration satellite, Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J), has successfully conducted controlled fly-around operations of space debris—a rocket upper stage—capturing detailed images from various angles and lighting conditions while maintaining a controlled fixed-point relative position of approximately 50 meters from the debris.

WATCH: https://youtu.be/H14zQpXirvs

ADRAS-J represents the world's first attempt to safely approach, characterize, and survey a significant piece of large debris through Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO). This groundbreaking mission involved rendezvousing with an unprepared Japanese upper stage rocket body, measuring about 11 meters in length, 4 meters in diameter, and weighing roughly 3 tons. By demonstrating safe approach and proximity operations with an object the size of a city bus, ADRAS-J has been able to gather crucial images and data to assess the debris's movement and structural condition. Notably, unprepared objects in orbit lack docking or servicing technologies, which adds to the complexity of these operations. The information obtained from these images is expected to support future missions aimed at capturing and removing such objects.

In June, during its first fly-around observation, ADRAS-J encountered an unexpected attitude anomaly about one-third through the maneuver (~120 degrees). This anomaly triggered an autonomous abort, prompting ADRAS-J to safely maneuver away from the upper stage as designed, effectively demonstrating its on-board collision avoidance system's capability to safely approach a non-cooperative object. Subsequently, ADRAS-J successfully reapproached the upper stage and completed two fly-around observations without incident.

Objects in low Earth orbit (below 2,000 km) travel at speeds of approximately 7 to 8 km per second, which underscores the challenge of locating, approaching, orbiting around, and gathering data from objects at this altitude.

The capabilities demonstrated by ADRAS-J set a new standard for on-orbit servicing, heralding a new era in RPO missions and paving the way for future on-orbit services. These advancements are essential for establishing a sustainable space environment.

ADRAS-J was selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for Phase I of its Commercial Debris Removal Demonstration program, aimed at demonstrating technologies for removing large debris. Astroscale Japan was also chosen as the contracting party for Phase II, which will involve the capture and deorbit of the upper stage.

Development of the ADRAS-J2 spacecraft is currently underway, building on the heritage of ADRAS-J and utilizing the data collected for the program's removal phase. The successful fly-around operations have shown no major damage to the payload attach fitting, which is the planned capture point for ADRAS-J2.

Since its launch in February, ADRAS-J has achieved several significant mission milestones:

• Feb. 18: Launch and start of in-orbit operations.

• Feb. 22: Start of rendezvous phase.

• Apr. 9: Start of Angles Only Navigation and proximity approach from several hundred kilometers.

• Apr. 16: Start of Model Matching Navigation relative navigation techniques.

• Apr. 17: Approach to the client within several hundred meters.

• May 23: Approach to the client within 50 meters and completion of the first fixed-point observation.

• Jun. 17: Completion of the second fixed-point observation.

• Jun. 19: Start of fly-around operation and validation of the collision avoidance system.

• Jul. 14: Approach to the client within 50 meters and completion of the third fixed-point observation.

• Jul. 15: Successful second fly-around observation.

• Jul. 16: Successful third fly-around observation.

Astroscale's ADRAS-J mission stands as a pioneering effort in space debris management, marking significant progress toward a sustainable and safe space environment.