Last month we unveiled the Astroscale Prototype Servicer for Refueling, a.k.a. APS-R! As the newest addition to Astroscale U.S.'s lineup of servicers in development, APS-R will be delivered to the U.S. Space Force and ready to launch by 2026 to provide ground-breaking in-space refueling services.

“Astroscale U.S.’ innovative approach aligns seamlessly with the Space Force’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements,” says Col. Joyce Bulson, USSF Service Lead for Space Mobility and Logistics.

We have completed the controlled de-orbit operations of ELSA-d, marking the conclusion of this groundbreaking mission! ELSA-d paved the way for a new era of space sustainability by demonstrating capabilities essential for on-orbit servicing, including capture and rendezvous and proximity operations.

As we celebrate this final milestone, our focus shifts to our next launch, ADRAS-J — the world's first mission to approach and characterize an existing piece of large debris in orbit.

Around the world

• Feb. 6-8: Catch Executive VP of Astroscale U.S., Dr. Clare Martin, at SmallSat Symposium where she will dive into situational awareness and the importance of in-orbit mobility. Don’t miss it! 
• Feb. 11-12: Our CTO, Mike Lindsay, will join the Space Debris Conference for two panel discussions you won’t want to miss: UNOOSA – Translating Policy into Progress and Tackling Space Debris.

In the media

• Our groundbreaking ADRAS-J mission has been making waves in the space community, earning not one but two mentions for 2024! TechCrunch spotlighted ADRAS-J as one of the must-watch Rendezvous and Proximity Operations missions this year. Interesting Engineering recognized us as one of the top space companies to keep a keen eye on with our ADRAS-J mission set to make history as the world’s first to safely approach and characterize a piece of large debris.
• Our Founder & CEO, Nobu Okada, joined a roundtable of industry experts in ViaSatellite to reflect on the major trends and events of 2023 from multi-orbit strategies to AI. 
• APS-R made its media debut in outlets including SpaceNews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Aviation Week, ViaSatellite, and ExecutiveBiz.
• Kristin Shahady, business development manager for Astroscale U.S. joined the Future Space Economy Series by Via Satellite to discuss the threat space debris poses, the value of the space sustainability economy itself, and how government and private investment in green space tech will pay off in the future.
• Jamie Lloyd, our electrical group manager at Astroscale UK, explained to EE Times the challenges of Active Debris Removal and how Astroscale is providing solutions for a safe and precise capture process.
• GMV and Astroscale UK have embarked on a new project under the European Space Agency’s CREAM (Collision Risk and Automated Mitigation) cornerstone, with a focus on transforming satellite collision avoidance through the use of the Galileo Signal-in-Space capabilities.