Rocket Lab Wins Contract to Launch Orbital Debris Removal Demonstration Mission for AstroscaleElectron'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 sustainabilitySeptember 21, 2021 04:30 PM Eastern Daylight TimeLONG 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:
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
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 09/28/2021 05:26 amThese 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 TapatalkBut 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.
ADRAS-J looking good in our clean room in Tokyo!ICYMI, we've been selected as a contract partner for a technology study in Phase II of JAXA’s Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration Project (CRD2)👏 @jaxa_enRead more here 🔗 https://astroscale.com/astroscale-selected-as-contract-partner-for-front-loading-technology-study-in-phase-ii-of-jaxas-commercial-removal-of-debris-demonstration-project/
📢 MISSION UPDATE: #ADRASJ has completed a significant technical milestone with the conclusion of environmental testing. We're looking forward to seeing ADRAS-J back in our clean room soon! 👀Learn more: https://astroscale.com/missions/adras-j/
Astroscale inspector satellite ready for launchSeptember 28, 2023Astroscale 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.”
Astroscale Ships World’s First Debris Inspection Mission to Launch SitePosted October 4th, 2023Tokyo, 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
Rocket Lab Sets Launch Window for Astroscale Orbital Debris Inspection Demonstration Mission02/07/2024The highly responsive mission aims to demonstrate new orbital debris inspection technologies for space sustainabilityLONG 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.
Astroscale’s ADRAS-J Ready for Launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on Sunday, February 18February 8th, 2024Astroscale 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).[...]
Less than a week until Electron takes to the skies for @astroscale_HQ!🚀 Launch window opens 19 Feb NZT 🚀Mission info: http://rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission
142329Z FEB 24HYDROPAC 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 24HYDROPAC 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.
Launching 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!
L-3 days until our 44th Electron launch 🚀Mission info: rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-…
Mission Name: On Closer InspectionRocket: ElectronLaunch Date: Launch Window Opens 19 Feb NZDTLaunch Site: Launch Complex 1 (note: 1B per press kit)Launch Time: 03:52 am NZDT / 14:52 UTCPayload: ADRAS-J (Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan)