Astroscale To Unveil Active Debris Removal Solution Prototype

ASTROSCALE will be showcasing its comprehensive plan to actively contribute to the safe and sustainable use of the space environment, at the Paris Air Show between 15 – 21 June 2015.

The company will present a selection of its capabilities and highlight some of its key technologies. A special focus will be made on the company’s catcher satellite prototype that will be presented for the very first time to an international audience on ASTROSCALE booth, Hall 6 B36.

ADRAS, a 80kg microsatellite carrying a 20kg catcher satellite that is currently in the development phase, will be used to capture mid-to-large orbital debris and decommissioned spacecrafts. The demonstration mission, which is planned for 2017, will present the company’s capability to conduct a non-cooperative approach, debris capture and burn up during atmospheric reentry from one of the most congested area in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Future versions of ADRAS will provide scalable and cost-effective On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) solutions for Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), responding to the growing need expressed by the satellite market.

IDEA, a 20kg microsatellite will collect key information characterizing small-size debris from 100μm or larger in LEO’s most congested areas. The objective is to contribute to the global effort of cataloguing small-size orbital debris and to improve future manned and un-manned space missions’ safety.

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