Astroscale has published new photos and videos taken by its ADRAS-J satellite. They show the spent upper stage of the Japanese H-2A rocket.
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, orbiting 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’s orbit using GPS and ground observations. By April 9, the satellite had detected the target with its on-board camera and then began the approach phase. It was carried out using an infrared camera and navigation algorithms that estimate distance by comparing images to a model. By April 17, ADRAS-J came within a few hundred meters of the stage and photographed it.
In the next phase, the satellite continued its approach. By May, it approached the stage at a distance of only 50 meters, after which it took a second survey, maintaining a fixed position relative to it. No other vehicle has ever performed such operations in orbit with space debris.
Succeeded the fixed-point observation, which is one of the #JAXA #CRD2 Phase I service requirements! @astroscale_JP 's #ADRASJ performed position and attitude keeping at the distance of about 50m, and captured the sequential images of the space debris. https://twitter.com/astroscale_HQ/status/1801516659469074489 pic.twitter.com/Gm36es89zu
— JAXA商業デブリ除去実証（CRD2) (@CRD2_JAXA) June 14, 2024
The data collected by ADRAS-J, will be used to prepare the second phase of the program. During it, a spacecraft will be sent to the stage to attempt to deorbit it.
According to astroscale.com
