GoKawiilAstroscale to inspect spinning defunct satellites for JAXA in ISSA-J1 mission
Astroscale executive Ron Lopez discussed the company's upcoming ISSA-J1 mission for JAXA, which will require rendezvousing with two decommissioned Japanese satellites rather than a rocket body. Unlike the ADRAS-J2 mission targeting a stable rocket stage, ISSA-J1 must approach satellites with protruding solar arrays that are likely tumbling, demanding more advanced rendezvous and proximity operations technology.
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Each mission adds to a growing dataset on approaching, identifying, and eventually capturing space debris, which Astroscale says is essential to building a viable satellite servicing and debris-removal industry. As orbital congestion grows, mastering these incremental technical steps could determine whether commercial in-space servicing becomes a sustainable business.
- ISSA-J1 targets two defunct satellites, a harder challenge than rocket-body missions due to potential spinning and protruding solar arrays.
- Astroscale is building a cumulative technical dataset across missions to support future space servicing capabilities.
- The company's approach reflects incremental progress, starting with simpler debris capture demonstrations before tackling more complex targets.
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See Celestron NexStar 6SE Telescope on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-09-11
Published there as: “Some satellite companies still have an appetite for boutique launch services”
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