Astroscale

Astroscale develops and operates spacecraft for on-orbit servicing (OOS) missions targeting space debris removal, satellite life extension, and end-of-life disposal. The company specializes in rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) with both cooperative and non-cooperative objects, employing magnetic docking interfaces for equipped satellites and robotic capture mechanisms for unprepared debris. Core operational platforms include ELSA-M for multi-satellite deorbiting in low Earth orbit, ADRAS-J for high-precision inspection and removal of large uncooperative debris, and LEXI for geostationary satellite life extension. In 2024, the ADRAS-J mission completed the first commercial close-proximity inspection of a defunct upper-stage rocket, validating autonomous flight and safety protocols for uncooperative targets.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Astroscale operates subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, United States, Israel, and France. The company serves government agencies including JAXA, the UK Space Agency, ESA, and the U.S. Space Force alongside commercial constellation operators. Astroscale operates on a service-based business model, providing debris removal and life-extension missions while promoting its standardized Magnetic Docking Plate (MDP) as a universal interface for future satellite designs. The company is currently developing the Astroscale Prototype Servicer for Refueling (APS-R) to provide on-orbit propellant transfer for the U.S. Space Force and the COSMIC mission to remove defunct UK satellites using robotic arm technology. Astroscale is a public company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under the ticker 186A.