Astroscale Japan has been selected by the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology ("MEXT") for its Small and Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop an on-orbit inspection demonstration mission that will image and diagnose a large, defunct satellite in space.
The MEXT-funded project is divided into three phases, and Astroscale Japan will receive up to JPY 2.69 billion (approximately U.S. $18 million) for Phase 1, and up to JPY 12 billion (approximately U.S. $80 million) in total for all three phases. Mission development will begin this month with a maximum term of up to March 2028.
The SBIR program was established to promote research and development for Japanese startups and organizations engaged in advancing innovative technologies, and to facilitate the smooth implementation of results through government support.
The call for application was announced in July 2023, and Astroscale Japan was selected in the space category for its "Development and Demonstration of Technologies and Systems for Removing Satellites and Other Objects from Orbit" project under the "Development and Demonstration of Technologies Required for Space Debris Reduction" theme.
The MEXT-funded mission will further advance Astroscale's heritage Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) capabilities, in addition to inspection and characterization capabilities for a diverse range of active spacecraft and large debris objects in space. Astrosale Japan will launch a similar mission later this year that will inspect and characterize a spent upper stage rocket body.
Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) is the world's first attempt to safely approach, characterize and survey the state of an existing piece of large debris through RPO. During this mission, ADRAS-J is designed to rendezvous with a Japanese upper stage, demonstrate proximity operations, and gather images to assess the rocket body's condition, including spin rate, spin axis and condition of the structure.
A key challenge of missions is that unprepared objects, such as spent upper stages and defunct satellites, do not provide any GPS data, meaning the precise location and orbital position needed for an RPO mission is not available.
Once deployed to a precise orbit, Astroscale's servicer spacecraft will first use ground-based observation data of the client's approximate orbital position to approach the client from longer distance, then switch over to its own sensors for a safe close approach and inspection of the client. These missions will demonstrate the most challenging RPO capabilities necessary for on-orbit services, including debris removal.
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Defense Industry Analyst:
8/10
This article provides an important insight into the increasing focus of the Japanese government on advancing and using innovative technologies to reduce the risk posed by space debris. It also highlights Astroscale Japans heritage Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) capabilities and its ability to inspect and characterize a diverse range of active spacecraft and large debris objects in space. This is an important development given the increasing focus on debris removal technologies and systems in the defense industry.
Stock Market Analyst:
7/10
This article provides an interesting insight into the potential of Astroscale Japan to leverage its RPO capabilities in the space industry. The MEXT funded mission has the potential to generate significant revenue for the company and provide a boost to its stock price. It also highlights the governments commitment to investing in innovative technologies and systems for debris removal which could create significant opportunities for investors.
General Industry Analyst:
7/10
This article provides a valuable insight into the increasing focus of the Japanese government on advancing and using innovative technologies to reduce the risk posed by space debris. It also highlights the potential of Astroscale Japan to leverage its RPO capabilities in the space industry and its ability to inspect and characterize a diverse range of active spacecraft and large debris objects in space.
Analyst Summary
:
This article discusses Astroscale Japans selection by the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for its Small and Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop an on orbit inspection demonstration mission that will image and diagnose a large defunct satellite in space. This mission will further advance Astroscales heritage Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) capabilities, in addition to its inspection and characterization capabilities for a diverse range of active spacecraft and large debris objects in space. The MEXT funded project is divided into three phases and Astroscale Japan will receive up to JPY
2.69 billion (approximately U.S. $18 million) for Phase 1 and up to JPY 12 billion (approximately U.S. $80 million) in total for all three phases. This is an important development given the increasing focus on debris removal technologies and systems in the defense industry, and it has the potential to generate significant revenue for the company and provide a boost to its stock price.This development correlates to the increasing awareness and focus on debris removal technologies in the space and defense industry over the past 25 years. In the 1990s, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Inter Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) to assess the risk posed by space debris and to develop strategies for debris removal. This was followed by the United Nations’ adoption of the ‘Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities’ in 2007, which further increased the focus on space debris removal. This article highlights the Japanese governments commitment to investing in innovative technologies and systems for debris removal, which will create significant opportunities for investors and the space industry as a whole.
Investigative
Question:
- 1. What other debris removal technologies and systems is Astroscale Japan developing?
- 2. How does the MEXT funded project compare with other debris removal initiatives in the industry?
- 3.
How will the mission development of Astroscale Japan in Phase 1 facilitate the smooth implementation of results in the other two phases?4. What other opportunities can be created with the deployment of ASTROscale Japans debris removal technologies and systems?
5. What are the potential implications of
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