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For further informationOn-orbit servicing: inspect, extend, refuel, and remove.
ADRAS-J was the first spacecraft to approach and photograph a large piece of debris up close. The next contracted step is to remove that rocket body, not only inspect it. Launch-year figures for ADRAS-J2 are targets, not a flown date.
Astroscale, founded 4 May 2013 in Singapore by Mitsunobu "Nobu" Okada. Headquarters are in Tokyo. It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth market, and it has offices in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Israel.
On-orbit servicing: magnetic capture for end-of-life satellites, close inspection of debris, and planned robotic removal, life extension, and refueling.
ELSA-d launched 22 March 2021 and tested magnetic capture. ADRAS-J launched in February 2024 and, in November 2024, approached to about 15 meters from a discarded Japanese H-2A upper stage. JAXA has contracted ADRAS-J2 to remove that same rocket body. Launch is targeted for Japan's fiscal 2027 on Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket.
Low Earth orbit for the debris missions flown so far. Geostationary life-extension and a U.S. Space Force refueling mission are in development. Customers include JAXA and other government agencies.
Large dead objects are the seeds of collisions. Inspecting and removing them keeps orbits usable for satellites and future missions.
Company figures are labeled as Astroscale statements.
Space Systems Command contracted Astroscale U.S. to refuel a Department of Defense satellite twice in geostationary orbit, the first hydrazine refueling above GEO and the first refueling of a DoD asset, using a 300 kg spacecraft (company figures). The 2025 release planned a summer 2026 launch; Astroscale's April 2026 business update now plans launch in its fiscal 2027 (the year ending April 2027).
Source: Astroscale U.S. press release (Apr 2025)
Source: Astroscale Holdings business update (Apr 2026)
ISSA-J1 Phase 2 is under contract; on October 6, 2026 Astroscale announced a ¥249 million increase to the Phase 2 contract value. Astroscale states this is not an award of Phase 3, the stage that would fly the mission.
Source: Astroscale Holdings notice (Oct 6, 2026)
ISSA-J1 Phase 3 (flight). This is a potential solution Astroscale Japan is advancing. We expect to know more within the coming months and will keep you updated here.
LEXI-P is built to dock with a customer's geostationary satellite and extend its life. Astroscale says development and ground testing are on schedule and key terms are agreed with a customer, but the contract is not yet signed while the customer checks its satellite's health; signing is expected in fiscal 2027 (by April 2027) (company statements).
Source: Astroscale Holdings business update (Apr 2026)
LEXI-P. This is a potential solution Astroscale is advancing. We expect to know more within the next six months and will keep you updated here.
Want to go deeper? Visit Astroscale (company).
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