Astroscale Receives Minister of Defense Award at 7th Space Development and Utilization Awards for World-First Mission from Japan

Astroscale, a company dedicated to in-orbit services including space debris removal (hereinafter, "debris") with the aim of a sustainable space environment, has been awarded the Minister of Defense Award at the "7th Space Development and Utilization Awards" ceremony hosted by the Cabinet Office on March 17. This award recognizes the mission of its commercial debris removal demonstration satellite "ADRAS-J," which Astroscale developed and operates, and which successfully achieved the world's first*1 close approach to actual debris and close-range imaging.

Provided by: Space Development and Utilization Awards

The Space Development and Utilization Awards is an awards system aimed at contributing to the further advancement of space development and utilization in Japan and fostering public awareness and understanding of space development and utilization, by commending excellent success stories that have made significant contributions to the promotion of space development and utilization.

The Minister of Defense Award, which Astroscale received this time, is presented to cases recognized for particularly outstanding achievements in contributing to the safety and security of the nation, including disaster prevention, from the perspective of promoting space development and utilization in the defense sector and ensuring stable use of outer space.

**Points of Award (Selection Committee Comments)** "The successful world's first close approach and close-range imaging of debris with ADRAS-J is highly commendable, as it establishes technology that can contribute not only to future debris countermeasures but also to space situational awareness. Debris removal technology itself is a critically important technology that humanity as a whole must address, and the fact that Astroscale has taken the first step in this regard is highly evaluated."

**Comment from Mitsunobu Okada, CEO of Astroscale** "We are extremely pleased to receive the prestigious Minister of Defense Award at the Space Development and Utilization Awards. The ADRAS-J mission was a very important mission for Astroscale. We recognize that this award acknowledges our achievements and expresses expectations for our in-orbit services. We would like to express our gratitude to the organizers, the selection committee members, the Ministry of Defense for the award, and JAXA for contracting and supporting this mission."

ADRAS-J is a mission carried out to establish RPO (Rendezvous and Proximity Operations) *2 technology, which is indispensable for in-orbit services—also known as "space roadside assistance"—that enable debris countermeasures and a circular space economy. This technology involves safely and precisely approaching target objects. Developed and operated as Phase I of the Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and with JAXA's support, Astroscale achieved world-first results from Japan, including long-distance approach, close-range imaging, and orbital observation of the target debris (a large piece of Japanese rocket upper stage: approximately 11m in length, 4m in diameter, and 3 tons in weight). This marks a significant step forward towards realizing in-orbit services and space sustainability.

The technology to safely and precisely approach and operate on target objects is a fundamental technology common to in-orbit services such as debris removal. In low Earth orbit, where objects move at extremely high speeds, RPO technology for non-cooperative objects—which do not provide positional information or attitude control assistance—was an unestablished new technology and extremely difficult.

Furthermore, one of the causes of the debris problem is that space development has long been a "disposable culture." After launch, only operations were performed, with no technology for maintenance or repair in orbit, leaving objects that had completed their mission in orbit. Astroscale's in-orbit services aim to fill this gap as "space roadside assistance," addressing not only debris removal but also space situational awareness and satellite refueling. All of these services cannot be realized without the ability to safely approach target objects. Only when safe approach is possible can the scope and possibilities of space operations expand. This mission, which successfully achieved safe approach and precise control of actual debris, marks a crucial first step in transforming space development from a "disposable" to a "circular" model, pioneering new possibilities globally.

For the debris approached and observed in this mission, capture and de-orbiting are also planned in CRD2 Phase II. The "ADRAS-J2" satellite, which will undertake this mission, is currently under development and testing for a launch in FY2027.

*1 Astroscale's own research on whether similar missions have been conducted in the past (December 2024) *2 RPO: Abbreviation for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Technologies.

**About Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2)** Astroscale was selected and contracted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as the counterparty for Phase I of the Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration, which aims to demonstrate technologies such as large debris removal, and developed ADRAS-J. The Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration is a new initiative by JAXA with two objectives: acquiring debris removal technology to mitigate the worsening debris problem, and supporting the commercial success of Japanese companies. Under this framework, the project is implemented with technical advice, shared test facilities, and intellectual property of research results provided by JAXA. Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration website: https://www.kenkai.jaxa.jp/crd2/project/

**About Astroscale** Astroscale is a global leader in in-orbit services, committed to safe and sustainable space development. The company provides diverse and innovative in-orbit service solutions, including observation and inspection of defunct satellites and objects, life extension of satellites, repair and upgrade, removal to prevent debris at the end of satellite operations, and removal of existing debris. Since March 2021, Astroscale has demonstrated RPO technology in orbit through missions such as ELSA-d and ADRAS-J, establishing its position as a leader in in-orbit services. Astroscale's spacecraft have been adopted for pioneering missions with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Ministry of Defense, the U.S. Space Force, the European Space Agency (ESA), the UK Space Agency (UKSA), and Eutelsat OneWeb. As more satellite operators adopt in-orbit services for routine inspection, relocation, removal, and life extension of spacecraft, the potential for a circular space economy expands, opening up a more sustainable future for space. The company operates globally with its headquarters and R&D base in Japan, as well as offices in the UK, US, France, and Israel. Astroscale Japan Inc. is a Japanese subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc. Astroscale website: https://astroscale.com/ja/