The influx of investment into Astroscale affirms the company’sRecent success in developing technology to service satellites and clean up orbital debris. This funding will be used to expand the company’s research and development efforts, as well as increase marketing efforts to attract new customers. Astroscale is poised to become a leading player in this burgeoning industry, and its investors are betting that it will be able to make a significant impact on space exploration
The biggest round of venture capital to ever be raised for a Japanese startup company was announced on Monday, when Series G investors led by Yusaku Maezawa and including Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi UFJ Bank replaced Tier 1 and Tier 2 banks. The total amount of the investment topped $76 million, giving TechStars Japan its largest single infusion yet.
This new partnership will allow Astroscale to both supply and support Mitsubishi Electric in the development of satellite buses for Japanese national security constellations, ensuring that these vehicles can be utilized until they reach the end of their useful life.
In-orbit servicing is a promising technology that could make low Earth orbit a more livable place. By rendezvousing and docking with other spacecraft, Astroscale’s spacecraft could perform services such as extending the useful life of satellites or safely deorbiting debris. This would make space more accessible and reduce the amount of waste in low Earth orbit.
The Astroscale ELSA-d demonstration mission failed after a successful magnetic capture and release of another spacecraft, but the company is still working on next steps for the mission. The two satellites continue to orbit separately, likely due to problems with the servicing spacecraft’s thrusters.
Although the initial debris removal demonstration project, Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J), is focused on removing a rocket second stage from orbit, Astroscale plans to continue expanding its debris removal capabilities in order to meet the needs of customers across a wide range of industries. ADRAS-J will be an important milestone in this growth, but Astroscale intends to keep advancing its capabilities by offering additional debris removal services. This will allow customers to find a solution that meets their specific needs and promotes innovation in space activity.
Space junk is a growing global problem due to the increasing number of satellites being launched into space. There are millions of pieces of space junk in low Earth orbit and there are likely tens of millions more objects that are smaller than 1 centimeter that are not currently tracked by any company or government. This growing problem threatens the safety of both astronauts and satellites, and requires a coordinated response to manage and mitigate its effects.
Without reliable satellites, our world would be plunged into darkness and chaos. Astroscale is tirelessly working to protect the orbital environment and ensure the continued utilization of satellites by ensuring their safety and reliability.
