TheTechno Optimist.

Astroscale—Isar Aerospace selected to launch Astroscale's ELSA-M in-orbit debris removal demonstrationAstroscale—Isar Aerospace selected to launch Astroscale's ADRAS-J2 active debris removal mission

Astroscale

Active debris removal, satellite servicing, ADRAS-J

JP$632M privateest. 2013astroscale.com (opens astroscale.com)Checked 10 Oct

The brief

Analyst view
  • First publicly traded space servicing company; TSE IPO June 2024 at ~$632M valuation.
  • ADRAS-J reached 15 m from 2009 rocket debris in December 2024; 360-degree fly-around completed.
  • ADRAS-J2 (2027–28 active removal) and ELSA-M (2028+ multi-client debris service).

Technical approach

As reported
Inspection

Non-contact proximity operations

Autonomous rendezvous and hover near targets without docking, using computer vision to map debris.

Capture

Mechanical grappling systems

Capture mechanism secures debris objects for controlled deorbiting operations.

Deorbit

Controlled atmospheric reentry

Captured debris lowered to lower orbits for safe atmospheric reentry burn-up.

Primer