Astroscale's ADRAS-J spacecraft, a demonstration satellite that could inform future space debris cleanup efforts, is now in orbit after a successful launch from New Zealand on Sunday. The satellite was sent into space aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket. Its mission, which was selected by the Japanese space agency (JAXA) for Phase I of the commercial debris removal demonstration program, will see ADRAS-J meet with an upper stage from an old Japanese rocket that has been in orbit since 2009.
There it goes!
ADRAS-J is now in orbit, ready to begin its mission to encounter an aging piece of space debris and observe it closely to determine if it can be deorbited in the future.
Proud to be part of this innovative @astroscale_HQ mission studying ways of… pic.twitter.com/WcMexdBhHR
– Rocket Laboratory (@RocketLab) February 18, 2024
The buildup of debris in Earth's orbit from decades of spaceflight is an issue of growing concern, and space agencies around the world are increasingly working to address it, in many cases turning to private companies to develop potential solutions. . One of the most effective ways to deal with space debris could be to deorbit it or move it to a lower altitude so it can burn in Earth's atmosphere. ADRAS-J will be the first to target a piece of existing large debris and attempt to safely approach and characterize it, relying on ground data to refine its position.
Over the next few months, it will reach the target and eventually attempt to get close enough to take images and assess its condition to determine if it can be removed. “ADRAS-J is officially commissioned and ready to encounter some space debris!” the company tweeted. “Let the new era of space sustainability begin!”