Japanese Space Startup Astroscale Signs $81 Million Contract to Remove Debris from Earth’s Orbit
Shares of Japanese space startup Astroscale saw a 19% rise after announcing a 12 billion yen ($81 million) contract with Japan’s space agency to eliminate debris from the earth’s orbit. Astroscale’s Japan unit is set to sign a five-year agreement with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for the removal of the upper stage of JAXA’s H-IIA rocket, launched in 2009.
New Spacecraft Development
- Astroscale will develop a new spacecraft, ADRAS-J2, equipped with robotic arm technologies to capture target debris by March 2029.
- The increasing number of satellites in orbit poses a significant risk to space missions, highlighting the importance of debris removal.
Rising Space Debris Concerns
A recent incident involving a Chinese rocket stage breaking apart in space generated over 700 pieces of debris, adding to the growing hazards of collisions in orbit. This underscores the urgency for effective debris removal initiatives.
Hot Take: Ensure a Cleaner Space Environment for Future Missions
As technology advances and more satellites are launched into orbit, the issue of space debris becomes increasingly critical. Initiatives like Astroscale’s contract with JAXA demonstrate the importance of proactively addressing debris removal to safeguard space missions and ensure a sustainable space environment for future generations.
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