Astroscale Ships ELSA-d Spacecraft to Launch Site

Posted December 22nd, 2020 Posted in News ,

【日本語のプレスリリースは最下段より】

Astroscale Holdings Inc. (“Astroscale”), the market leader in securing long-term orbital sustainability, has shipped its End-of-Life Services by Astroscale demonstration (ELSA-d) satellite to Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a March 2021 launch on a Soyuz rocket.

“Shipment is always a significant milestone on any satellite development program,” said Gene Fujii, Astroscale Chief Engineer. “We have officially moved from the manufacturing phase to the launch and operations preparation phase, and we are eager to see ELSA-d in orbit.”

ELSA-d is the first mission to demonstrate the core technologies necessary for space debris docking and removal, a major step towards expanding on-orbit services and achieving Astroscale’s vision of safe and sustainable space for the benefit of future generations.

“Our journey to this point has been long, challenging, and rewarding — now begins a trailblazing journey for ELSA-d itself,” said Nobu Okada, Astroscale Founder and CEO. “A new era of space sustainability starts with this shipment, and watching ELSA-d leave our Tokyo headquarters was a powerful moment.”

That moment has been captured in a short video and a few photos below:

Astroscale watches ELSA d shipment

Astroscale Team ELSA d

ELSA d group shipment photo Astroscale

ELSA d Shipment

 

日本語のプレスリリースはこちらよりご覧下さい。