Japanese startup to launch space debris cleaner

Japanese startup Astroscale sent its ELSA-d spacecraft to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. There

engineers are integrating it with the Soyuz rocket,which is scheduled to launch in March 2021. The company noted that this is the most important flight for them, since it is the first demonstration of the company's technology to combat debris, one of the most important issues in ensuring the sustainability of space activities.

The small device will demonstrate twoKey Technologies: Aiming, which will help locate debris with a GPS-based aiming sensor. This data will be used by a so-called "service" satellite, which can intercept a piece of space debris.

China launched the latest CZ-8 launch vehicle with five satellites

Astroscale is planning several timesdock with the target and release a service satellite. So they want to show that they can identify and capture uncontrolled objects in space and that they can manipulate them for controlled deorbiting. If the mission is successful, then the company can launch a full-fledged commercial operation.

In October 2020, the company announced it had attracted 51million dollars - now the total amount of funds raised is $191 million. Additionally, in June the company hired staff and purchased technology from  Effective Space Solutions, which it will use to create the geostationary services division of its business.

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