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Electron - Astroscale ADRAS-J - On closer inspection - 18 Feb 2024 (14:52 UTC)
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 21 Sep, 2021 20:40
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https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210921006058/en/Rocket-Lab-Wins-Contract-to-Launch-Orbital-Debris-Removal-Demonstration-Mission-for-AstroscaleRocket Lab Wins Contract to Launch Orbital Debris Removal Demonstration Mission for Astroscale
Electron's Kick Stage will enable an Astroscale satellite to rendezvous with a spent Japanese upper stage rocket body in low Earth orbit, demonstrating new debris removal technology for space sustainability
September 21, 2021 04:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time
LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has signed a dedicated launch contract with Astroscale Japan Inc. (“Astroscale Japan”), a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc. (“Astroscale”), a market leader in satellite servicing and long-term orbital sustainability. Scheduled for lift-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in 2023, the Electron rocket will launch the Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite, which has been selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for Phase I of its Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration Project (CRD2), one of the world’s first technology demonstrations of removing large-scale debris from orbit.
“Reliable and commercially viable launch vehicles like Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket enable frequent and flexible access to space, allowing us to advance our on-orbit services which are fundamental to the growth of the space infrastructure and economy”
Once deployed to a precise orbit by Electron’s Kick Stage, the ADRAS-J satellite is designed to rendezvous with a piece of orbital debris, a long abandoned upper stage rocket body. ADRAS-J aims to demonstrate proximity operations and obtain images of the rocket body, delivering observational data to better understand the debris environment. A planned second phase of the mission, which has yet to be competed, intends to demonstrate the de-orbit of the debris.
“The ability to actively remove satellites and debris from orbit at the end of their operational life will likely play a key role in ensuring a sustainable space environment for the future, so we’re delighted to enable Astroscale to demonstrate new and innovative solutions in this field,” said Rocket Lab Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Beck. “Rendezvousing with a piece of debris on orbit, travelling at around 27,000 km per hour, is a highly complex task that requires absolute precision when it comes to orbital deployment. Electron’s Kick Stage has demonstrated this precision across 18 missions, providing in-space transportation to place our customers’ satellites exactly where they need to go.”
“Reliable and commercially viable launch vehicles like Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket enable frequent and flexible access to space, allowing us to advance our on-orbit services which are fundamental to the growth of the space infrastructure and economy,” said Nobu Okada, Founder and CEO of Astroscale. “Rocket Lab and Astroscale have become leaders in our respective markets and I am thrilled to collaborate on ADRAS-J, a ground breaking mission that will shape the technologies and policies needed to drive space sustainability forward.”
A visualization of the ADRAS-J mission can be viewed here:
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#1
by
Alberto-Girardi
on 27 Sep, 2021 19:35
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Very interesting. Thanks to FST for reporting this here. Rocket Lab seems to have lots of attentions by small but with high-objectives startups. Varda and Astroscale are pointing higher than otehr companies that have used rocketlab's servicies. If these companies, (or one of them, or one that will come with similars high objectives) succed it will be a very good amount of money for rocket lab.
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#2
by
TrevorMonty
on 28 Sep, 2021 05:26
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These are types of missions that RL design Photon for. Lets companies concentrate on their core technologies without having to build spacecraft from scratch. Think of Photon as pickup or truck with just vehicle chassis on rear too which customer attaches their payload.
Sent from my SM-G570Y using Tapatalk
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#3
by
Comga
on 28 Sep, 2021 15:27
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These are types of missions that RL design Photon for. Lets companies concentrate on their core technologies without having to build spacecraft from scratch. Think of Photon as pickup or truck with just vehicle chassis on rear too which customer attaches their payload.
Sent from my SM-G570Y using Tapatalk
But that’s not what Astroscale shows in the video.
After Photon puts ADRAS-J in a reasonably close approach orbit, it goes off on its own. It makes no further use of the extensive capabilities of Photon.
That video is a curious mix of accurate motions in the rotating coordinate system anchored to the target and excessive thruster bursts while on what is essentially passive trajectory.
And the mission ends without demonstrating what would be new: attaching to an uncontrolled large object. Without that its just a reconnaissance mission.
That’s for an Astroscale discussion but it’s hard to imagine this being an ongoing business for Rocketlab. Who is going to pay around $10M to have an abandoned object deorbited?
I actually worked on that. The USAF/USFF has massive dead satellites spewing debris around an orbit they need, yet they have no interest in or funding to clean up their own mess.
Shy of a “new world order” demanding debris removal, it is unlikely a business case can be made, no matter how logical and imperative it seems.
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#4
by
niwax
on 28 Sep, 2021 15:31
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These are types of missions that RL design Photon for. Lets companies concentrate on their core technologies without having to build spacecraft from scratch. Think of Photon as pickup or truck with just vehicle chassis on rear too which customer attaches their payload.
Sent from my SM-G570Y using Tapatalk
But that’s not what Astroscale shows in the video.
After Photon puts ADRAS-J in a reasonably close approach orbit, it goes off on its own. It makes no further use of the extensive capabilities of Photon.
That video is a curious mix of accurate motions in the rotating coordinate system anchored to the target and excessive thruster bursts while on what is essentially passive trajectory.
And the mission ends without demonstrating what would be new: attaching to an uncontrolled large object. Without that its just a reconnaissance mission.
That’s for an Astroscale discussion but it’s hard to imagine this being an ongoing business for Rocketlab. Who is going to pay around $10M to have an abandoned object deorbited?
I actually worked on that. The USAF/USFF has massive dead satellites spewing debris around an orbit they need, yet they have no interest in or funding to clean up their own mess.
Shy of a “new world order” demanding debris removal, it is unlikely a business case can be made, no matter how logical and imperative it seems.
Well, over time it'll probably be more like 100 of these going up as part of a Falcon rideshare, with 10 each sharing a Photon to drop them off. As for paying for it, I'm still in favor of mandatory registration of planned satellite lifetimes with deorbit insurance. In that case: the insurance.
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#5
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 02 Sep, 2022 05:25
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#6
by
Rondaz
on 02 Sep, 2022 12:21
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#7
by
Tywin
on 31 Mar, 2023 01:22
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#8
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 29 Aug, 2023 13:03
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#9
by
GewoonLukas_
on 28 Sep, 2023 21:37
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Astroscale inspector satellite ready for launch
September 28, 2023
Astroscale says a mission to inspect an upper stage abandoned in low Earth orbit, as a precursor to removing it, is ready for launch, but a recent launch failure will keep it on the ground for the time being.
At a Sept. 28 briefing, executives with Astroscale said the Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan, or ADRAS-J, spacecraft is complete and ready for its mission to rendezvous with and inspect an upper stage of an H-2A rocket.
[...]
Astroscale had planned to announce a November launch date for ADRAS-J at the briefing, but those plans are on hold after Rocket Lab’s Electron launch failure Sept. 19 caused it to suspend upcoming launches. That company is still investigating the failure and has not given any indication yet of when it will be ready to return to flight.
“Our partners at Rocket Lab are currently working hard conducting an analysis of the anomaly and we are wishing them all the best for a speedy return to flight,” said Chris Blackerby, chief operating officer at Astroscale.
Company officials at the briefing gave no indication they were considering alternative launch vehicles, preferring the flexibility offered by a dedicated Electron launch. “The impacts of any delays or timing is not going to be an issue for us,” said Fujii. “By having a dedicated ride, we can work very closely with the launch vehicle provider to ensure the most optimum target insertion that’s close to the client and optimizes the mission, and Rocket Lab has been able to provide that for us.”
“Whenever they’re ready to launch,” he said, “we’ll be able to do our mission.”
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#10
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 04 Oct, 2023 05:29
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https://astroscale.com/astroscale-ships-worlds-first-debris-inspection-mission-to-launch-site/Astroscale Ships World’s First Debris Inspection Mission to Launch Site
Posted October 4th, 2023
Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 4, 2023 – Astroscale Japan Inc. (“Astroscale Japan”), a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc. (“Astroscale”), the market leader in satellite servicing and long-term orbital sustainability across all orbits, has shipped its commercial debris inspection demonstration satellite, Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J), from its satellite manufacturing facility in Tokyo, Japan, to Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand.
“Shipment to the launch site is always an exciting milestone of any satellite development program,” said Eddie Kato, President and Managing Director of Astroscale Japan. “We have officially moved from the development phase to the launch and operations preparations phase, and we are very much looking forward to the launch of the world’s first debris inspection mission.”
The ADRAS-J spacecraft was selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency for Phase I of its Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration program. Astroscale Japan is responsible for the design, manufacture, test, launch and operations of ADRAS-J.
The ADRAS-J mission is the world’s first attempt to safely approach, characterize and survey the state of an existing piece of large debris through Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO). ADRAS-J is designed to rendezvous with a Japanese upper stage rocket body, demonstrate proximity operations including orbiting around the upper stage, and gather images to assess the rocket body’s movement, and condition of the structure. The mission will demonstrate the most challenging RPO technologies necessary for on-orbit services.
ADRAS-J Mission Highlights
ADRAS-J will be the world’s first attempt to safely approach and characterize an existing piece of large debris through RPO.
The mission will lay the groundwork for one of the world’s first active debris removal (ADR) missions and for in-space inspection and situational awareness capabilities.
ADRAS-J will demonstrate the essential RPO capabilities for delivering future safe and secure on-orbit services.ADRAS-J will serve as a catalyst for making ADR and other on-orbit services a feasible reality for governments and commercial businesses around the world.
END
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#11
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 07 Feb, 2024 20:31
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https://investors.rocketlabusa.com/news/news-details/2024/Rocket-Lab-Sets-Launch-Window-for-Astroscale-Orbital-Debris-Inspection-Demonstration-Mission/default.aspxRocket Lab Sets Launch Window for Astroscale Orbital Debris Inspection Demonstration Mission
02/07/2024
The highly responsive mission aims to demonstrate new orbital debris inspection technologies for space sustainability
LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has set the launch window for Astroscale’s orbital debris inspection demonstration mission.
The ‘On Closer Inspection’ mission is scheduled to launch during a 14-day window that opens on February 19th NZDT. The mission will lift-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and will deploy the Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite for Astroscale Japan Inc. The mission is the first phase of an orbital debris removal program, and during this phase ADRAS-J is designed to test technologies and operations for approaching and monitoring debris objects, also known as space junk, and delivering data that will assist in removing it, to ensure the sustainable use of space for future generations.
After launching on Electron, the 150-kilogram ADRAS-J satellite will approach an aged, derelict rocket stage in orbit to observe it closely, understand how it behaves and determine potential methods for its assisted deorbiting in future. The rocket stage it will be observing is the Japanese H-2A upper stage left in low Earth orbit after the launch of the GOSAT Earth observation satellite in 2009. ADRAS-J will fly around the stage, 11 meters long and four meters in diameter, inspecting it with cameras. After deployment from Electron, Astroscale’s full mission will take between three and six months to complete.
To enable the rendezvous with a non-cooperative space object requires a dedicated launch, highly responsive mission planning and extremely tight margins on orbital parameters. Rocket Lab only received the final perigee, apogee, and inclination from Astroscale 20 days before launch. Only then could argument of perigee targets for different days within the 14-day window be selected, essentially determining the timing of Electron Kick Stage burns to facilitate the unique elliptical orbit required depending on the launch date. The mission also demands highly accurate orbital insertion with tighter margins than required on most standard missions. In addition, the exact T-0 will only be defined the day prior to launch and the required LTAN accuracy only allows for +/- 15 seconds.
“Electron is really the only vehicle capable of delivering such a complex mission on an expedited timeline,” said Rocket Lab Founder and CEO Peter Beck. “With a dedicated launch on Electron the Astroscale team have a high degree of control over launch time and deployment parameters, and the Kick Stage delivers critical manoeuvrability for precise orbital deployment. We’re immensely proud to be working with the Astroscale team in support of a pivotal mission that could have real, positive benefits for managing space sustainability for future generations.”
“We are proud to join forces with Rocket Lab to launch the world’s first attempt to safely approach a piece of large debris,” said Astroscale Founder & CEO, Nobu Okada. “ADRAS-J is a testament to our commitment to technological innovation and to fostering the growth of the on-orbit servicing sector. This mission holds immense significance, not just for the future of space sustainability, but for pioneering advancements in Rendezvous and Proximity Operations, which are essential technologies to deliver any on-orbit servicing such as debris removal.”
‘On Closer Inspection’ will be Rocket Lab’s 2nd launch in 2024 and the 44th Electron mission overall.
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#12
by
GewoonLukas_
on 07 Feb, 2024 21:19
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Launch is actually February 18th UTC:
Astroscale’s ADRAS-J Ready for Launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on Sunday, February 18
February 8th, 2024
Astroscale Japan Inc. (“Astroscale Japan”), a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc. (“Astroscale”), the market leader in satellite servicing and long-term orbital sustainability across all orbits, will launch its commercial debris inspection demonstration satellite, Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J), on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on Sunday, February 18 UTC (Monday, February 19 NZDT).
[...]
Rocket Lab mission patch:
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#13
by
catdlr
on 13 Feb, 2024 02:26
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#14
by
Ken the Bin
on 14 Feb, 2024 23:20
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NGA Rocket Launching and Space Debris notices.
142329Z FEB 24
HYDROPAC 527/24(76).
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
1145Z TO 1630Z DAILY 18 THRU 25 FEB
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 39-20.42S 178-10.66E, 39-05.74S 178-01.31E,
39-11.53S 177-44.98E, 39-47.27S 177-31.69E,
39-51.95S 177-59.14E.
B. 43-48.00S 177-24.00E, 43-30.00S 175-42.00E,
46-54.00S 174-30.00E, 47-12.00S 176-24.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 251730Z FEB 24.
142344Z FEB 24
HYDROPAC 528/24(76).
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
1145Z TO 1630Z DAILY 18 THRU 25 FEB
IN AREA BOUND BY
53-48.00S 173-12.00E, 53-36.00S 171-42.00E,
57-36.00S 169-36.00E, 57-54.00S 171-24.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 251730Z FEB 24.
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#15
by
catdlr
on 15 Feb, 2024 01:10
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https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1757935544800260553Launching on Electron no earlier than 19 Feb NZT, this highly complex space junk monitoring mission for our mission partners @astroscale_HQ will be one to follow!
Curious about how ADRAS-J will safely approach and characterize a second-stage rocket body through Rendezvous and Proximity Operations?
Watch the Concept of Operations in just 3 minutes!
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#16
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 15 Feb, 2024 23:21
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#17
by
Ken the Bin
on 16 Feb, 2024 02:10
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#18
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 16 Feb, 2024 04:29
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Summary on Rocket Lab's next mission page
Mission Name: On Closer Inspection
Rocket: Electron
Launch Date: Launch Window Opens 19 Feb NZDT
Launch Site: Launch Complex 1 (note: 1B per press kit)
Launch Time: 03:52 am NZDT / 14:52 UTC
Payload: ADRAS-J (Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan)
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#19
by
catdlr
on 17 Feb, 2024 00:16
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#20
by
Ken the Bin
on 17 Feb, 2024 22:54
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#21
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 03:15
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https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1759068304793014497The @astroscale_HQ ADRAS-J inspector sat is due for launch on Electron tomorrow. The satellite has twelve 1N thrusters using ammonium dinitramide monopropellant. I don't know what the mass of propellant aboard is, though; the press kit is good on other aspects of the mission
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#22
by
jcm
on 18 Feb, 2024 14:55
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Oddly in the press kit it implies there are two Curie burns on this mission prior to deployment, one
at 50 min and one at 1h 03min. This is unusual for Electron. According to the webcast the first burn was to circularize orbit and the second one was an adjustment burn, presumably to target a more precise injection state.
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#23
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 14:59
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OH my, Steven isn't here to cover this launch. I just got on and at this precise moment, the deployment was deployed successfully. All seems to be well. I'll post some videos and some Twitter status posts in a few minutes.
Steven, hope you are OK.
Tony
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#24
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 14:59
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#25
by
jcm
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:00
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Second burn and Payload deployment confirmed, events about 20s ahead of the press kit values.
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#26
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:01
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#27
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:04
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#28
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:05
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#29
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:06
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#30
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:07
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#31
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:08
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#32
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:09
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#33
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:11
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#34
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:12
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#35
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:12
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#36
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:14
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#37
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:26
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#38
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:27
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https://twitter.com/Peter_J_Beck/status/1759234214564892943Perfect transfer orbit.
Nominal mission so far. Our 2nd stage Rutherford engine has shut down as planned and the Kick Stage has cleanly separated. Roughly an hour from now ADRAS-J will separate from the Kick Stage, ready to begin its orbital debris monitoring mission.
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#39
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:30
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https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1759251565775372319Electron's kick stage has deployed ADRAS-J. ADRAS-J will carry out a rendezvous with the H-2A-F15 upper stage (33500, 2009-002J) in a 557 x 622 km x 98.2 deg SSO with orbital descending node at 03:17 local time.
8:20 AM · Feb 18, 2024
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#40
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:31
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#41
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:31
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#42
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:32
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#43
by
catdlr
on 18 Feb, 2024 15:37
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That's what I can scrape up from social media. This reminds me of the days I used to cover Sea Launch, there was no live stream and no NSF coverage, I knew someone on board the control ship and he was sending (old style) Twitter messages that I re-post on NSF. Those were the days.
Tony Out.
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#44
by
catdlr
on 19 Feb, 2024 02:30
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This post contains a short video
https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1759269717137842603There it goes! 🛰️👋
ADRAS-J is now in orbit, ready to start its mission of rendezvousing with an aging piece of space debris and observing it closely to determine whether it can be deorbited in the future.
Proud to be part of this innovative
@astroscale_HQ
mission studying ways to clean up space.
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#45
by
catdlr
on 19 Feb, 2024 17:52
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#46
by
catdlr
on 19 Feb, 2024 22:52
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#47
by
catdlr
on 21 Feb, 2024 00:20
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#48
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 11 Mar, 2024 12:08
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https://twitter.com/astroscale_hq/status/1767173635045732845🛰️ ADRAS-J Update: Our spacecraft remains in good health and operations are going as planned. Both our teams in Japan and UK will continue to make scheduled thruster burns to ensure a safe approach towards the rocket upper stage over the coming weeks.
#ShowtheWayADRASJ
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#49
by
GewoonLukas_
on 26 Apr, 2024 08:47
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Astroscale Unveils World’s First Image of Space Debris Captured through Rendezvous and Proximity Operations
April 26th, 2024
Astroscale Japan Inc. (“Astroscale Japan”), a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc. (“Astroscale”), a market leader in satellite servicing and long-term orbital sustainability across all orbits, has unveiled the first publicly released image of space debris captured through rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO). The image was taken by its commercial debris inspection demonstration satellite, Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J), from several hundred meters behind the space debris, a rocket upper stage. The unprecedented image marks a crucial step towards understanding and addressing the challenges posed by space debris, driving progress toward a safer and more sustainable space environment.
[...]
In the next phase of the mission, ADRAS-J will attempt to capture additional images of the upper stage through various controlled close approach operations. The images and data collected are expected to be crucial in better understanding the debris and providing critical information for future removal efforts.
[...]
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#50
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 01 May, 2024 06:44
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Interesting to see that the orange spray on foam insulation (SOFI) has turned brown in colour.
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#51
by
edkyle99
on 04 May, 2024 01:54
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Interesting to see that the orange spray on foam insulation (SOFI) has turned brown in colour.
I bet a lot of that is heating during ascent. I remember the rocket cam videos of Shuttle External Tanks.
- Ed Kyle
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#52
by
Comga
on 26 May, 2024 02:58
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Interesting to see that the orange spray on foam insulation (SOFI) has turned brown in colour.
A prelaunch image of an H2A second stage shows the tank to be painted white, as seen below, and a recent image on orbit,
shown a few posts back by HEO (labeled "panchromatic" but clearly in color) showed it to be white and glossy, not orange and diffuse.
So it started white, not orange, and it could now be brown or white.
Color is difficult, and changes come from aging of objects, exposure and recording effects, and misrepresentation when being displayed.
We really don't know what the change has been.
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#53
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 26 May, 2024 03:22
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Interesting to see that the orange spray on foam insulation (SOFI) has turned brown in colour.
A prelaunch image of an H2A second stage shows the tank to be painted white, as seen below, and a recent image on orbit, shown a few posts back by HEO (labeled "panchromatic" but clearly in color) showed it to be white and glossy, not orange and diffuse.
So it started white, not orange, and it could now be brown or white.
Color is difficult, and changes come from aging of objects, exposure and recording effects, and misrepresentation when being displayed.
We really don't know what the change has been.
Actually most H-IIA 2nd stages are not painted white (including the one being inspected); only a selected few are painted to control boil-off for extended mission durations.
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#54
by
edzieba
on 28 May, 2024 11:53
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Launch footage indicate the upper stage was painted white, at least at time of liftoff.
'Colour' is such a messy concept to start with that illumination and choice of camera filters will produce wildly different results, and then there's processing on top of that. Without information on HEO's or Astrascale's cameras and what their spectral responses are, it's difficult to determine what the 'true colour'* of the stage is.
* Which can at best be agreed upon as being if the object in question was observed by an average human eye under D65 standard illumination.
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#55
by
GewoonLukas_
on 14 Jun, 2024 07:41
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Historic Approach to Space Debris: Astroscale’s ADRAS-J Closes in by 50 Meters
June 14th, 2024
[...] Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J), has achieved another unprecedented milestone for a commercial company. ADRAS-J successfully completed the safe and controlled approach to an unprepared space debris object – a rocket upper stage – to a relative distance of approximately 50 meters, collecting further images and data while maintaining a controlled fixed point relative position from the upper stage. This second image released from the mission, taken in May, follows the first image released on April 26, captured from several hundred meters behind the debris.
[...]
In the next phase, ADRAS-J will attempt to capture additional images of the upper stage through various controlled close approach operations. The images and data collected are expected to be crucial in better understanding the debris and providing critical information for future removal efforts.
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#56
by
eeergo
on 14 Jun, 2024 11:40
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#57
by
edzieba
on 14 Jun, 2024 15:39
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#58
by
jebbo
on 15 Jun, 2024 06:29
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Shouldn't all the post-launch stuff really be in the Space Science section rather than here?
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#59
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 15 Jun, 2024 07:08
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Shouldn't all the post-launch stuff really be in the Space Science section rather than here?
Well this is a technology demonstration mission so I don’t see why it needs a separate thread there; updates should be sparse enough to not need one anyway.
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#60
by
spacebleachers
on 15 Jun, 2024 11:51
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Shouldn't all the post-launch stuff really be in the Space Science section rather than here?
Actually, I was thinking the Commercial Space Section with a dedicated Astroscale thread. That is if there isn’t already one.
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#61
by
Fuji
on 02 Aug, 2024 04:54
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