Astroscale's ADRAS-J satellite, launched by a Rocket Lab Electron rocket in February 2024, captured close-up images of a discarded 11-meter-long (36 feet) H-2A rocket upper stage that has been orbiting Earth for nearly 20 years as part of JAXA's CRD2 program, marking a world first.
Satellites in Earth's orbit are equipped with cameras that can capture images of space debris, including large pieces of abandoned rockets and other discarded objects, allowing companies like Astroscale to analyze their condition and plan for safe removal.
The ADRAS-J satellite used ground-based techniques and Model Matching Navigation to locate and estimate the distance to the target object, approaching within 50 meters on June 14 to capture images showcasing its condition and spin rate.
Space debris poses a hazard to satellites and human-crewed habitats. NASA estimates there are 6,000 tons of space junk in Earth's orbit, traveling at high speeds, caused by defunct satellites, rocket parts, and collisions, creating more debris.
Astroscale aims to remove space debris by executing safe approach maneuvers and gathering data, with plans for more controlled close approaches in the next phase of the CRD2 mission, potentially using robotic arms to capture and deorbit the debris.
Efforts to remove space debris have been ongoing for years, as the accumulation of space junk is a growing concern for space operations, and ADRAS-J is part of addressing this issue and setting a sustainable environment for future generations.
Orbital debris doesn't broadcast its location, so tracking is done on the ground and on the satellite for a safe approach maneuver, as space junk poses a significant threat due to its high speed and the potential for catastrophic collisions.
Astroscale is developing spacecraft to manage satellites in orbit, providing services like life extension and "end of life" services for commercial satellites, with the next phase of the CRD2 program planned for 2026 to actively deorbit the upper stage.
The company shared additional images captured by ADRAS-J on YouTube for public viewing, and at the end of the mission, ADRAS-J will transition to a safe orbit to avoid collisions with space junk.
Sources: Hackaday, TechCrunch, TweakTown, Digital Trends, Space.com, Brytfmonline, and PetaPixel.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
