Astroscale has published several videos taken by its ADRAS-J satellite. They demonstrate a space debris overflight operation.
The ADRAS-J satellite was built by Astroscale on behalf of JAXA. It was launched into orbit in February 2024. The main task of the 150-kilogram vehicle is to demonstrate the possibility of removing large fragments of space debris from orbit. The upper stage of the H-2A rocket, which has been in orbit since 2009, was chosen as the object for the demonstration. Its length is 11 meters, diameter is 4 meters, and mass is about 3 tons.
After launch, ADRAS-J began maneuvering toward the stage orbit using GPS and ground observations. By May, it approached it at a distance of 50 meters. The engineers then began the next phase of the mission. Within its framework, ADRAS-J should fly around the stage and collect maximum information on its structural state and motion peculiarities.
The first attempt to fly around the stage ended in failure. When the satellite was about a third of the way past its destination, the onboard collision avoidance system aborted the operation due to an anomaly in the attitude control system.
On July 15, Astroscale repeated the attempt. This time it was much more successful. ADRAS-J circled the stage twice, keeping at a distance of 50 meters from it. The operation was performed in a fully autonomous mode using lidar, light detection sensors, and specially developed software algorithms for alignment and control.
The data collected during the overflights will be needed by Astroscale to prepare the next phase of the mission. During its course, a specialized cleaning spacecraft will be sent to the stage to attempt to deorbit it.
According to Astroscale
