Astroscale, a space sustainability company focused on in-orbit servicing and debris removal technologies, has advanced orbital debris management with the ADRAS-J (Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan) mission. The mission is designed to demonstrate high-precision rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) for safe inspection and characterization of large, unprepared space debris. The mission was conducted in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and launched in 2024 to demonstrate on-orbit debris inspection capabilities as part of Japan’s broader effort to enable active debris removal technologies.
ADRAS-J represents the first mission to approach and characterize an existing large piece of orbital debris using RPO technologies, establishing a critical foundation for future active debris removal services. The spacecraft is tasked with rendezvousing with a defunct H-IIA rocket upper stage and conducting detailed observations to assess its motion, structural condition, and surrounding environment.
The mission leverages a suite of advanced navigation and guidance technologies, including angles-only navigation and model-based relative navigation, enabling the spacecraft to safely approach non-cooperative targets without onboard markers or communication systems. These capabilities are essential for servicing legacy debris objects that were not designed for retrieval or inspection. During operations, ADRAS-J successfully executed close-range proximity maneuvers and fly-around observations, capturing high-resolution imagery and validating collision avoidance and relative navigation systems. The spacecraft achieved approach distances as close as 15 meters, demonstrating precise control and stability in dynamic orbital conditions.
A key technical outcome of the mission is the demonstration of Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) to safely approach and characterize a large piece of space debris. The spacecraft obtained images and other data of the object, delivering observational information to better understand the debris, including its motion and structural condition, which supports future debris removal efforts. ADRAS-J also serves as a precursor to follow-on missions such as ADRAS-J2, which will incorporate robotic capture and deorbiting capabilities, extending the demonstrated inspection technologies into full active debris removal systems.
About Astroscale
Astroscale is a space technology company focused on developing in-orbit servicing and space debris removal solutions to enable sustainable space operations. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with offices across the United Kingdom, United States, France and Israel, the company designs spacecraft and technologies for debris inspection, removal, life extension and end-of-life services. The technology portfolio is built around advanced rendezvous and proximity operations, guidance and navigation systems and scalable servicing architectures, supporting both commercial and government missions aimed at improving orbital safety and long-term space sustainability.
