one webtogether Astroscale Inc..* seeks to protect the UK’s satellite economy with new spacecraft technology, thanks in part to a new €14.8 million investment. Astroscale’s mission to demonstrate his ELSA-M servicer will begin towards the end of 2024, after which it will provide debris removal services to satellite operators.
The announcement is based on sunrisea partnership program launched in 2019 European Space Agency (ESA) OneWeb supports next-generation technology advancements.this is artificial intelligence (AI) to operate satellites to support new payloads, user terminal technologies and active debris removal research.
This latest funding deal supports Astroscale Ltd. and its UK partners. This allows for perfect design. ELSA-M Servicer from conception and design through manufacturing and satellite pre-integration stages. Once complete, the servicer will be able to acquire and remove multiple satellites in a single mission once it reaches the end of its operational lifecycle on LEO. Many partnerships are being pursued to identify solutions for responsibly managing space debris.
Massimiliano Radovaz OneWeb’s Chief Technology Officer said:Responsible spaces are central to OneWeb’s mission, and we are committed to sustainable practices in all the environments in which we operate. The development of the ELSA-M servicer prototype is another important milestone towards a responsible approach to space, allowing satellites to be removed from orbit and allowing the low earth orbit environment to be preserved as a natural shared resource. We guarantee that”
John AuburnManaging Director of Astroscale Ltd. said:Unless you start cleaning up your space, you’re putting your communication services at risk. Astroscale’s ELSA-M servicer is designed based on the ELSA-d demonstration mission to clean up orbital debris. This spacecraft demonstrates our innovative rendezvous, capture and de-orbit capabilities using a full-size Constellation client. We plan to launch commercial services for satellite operators such as OneWeb shortly after the on-orbit demonstration, with a vision to make debris removal part of our daily routine by 2030. Our continued support to develop this innovative technology will lead to commercial services that contribute to the sustainable economy of space.”
Elodie VioESA’s Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, said:Our digital economy and society depend on our ability to communicate, so ensuring the responsible use of space is essential to safeguarding today’s interconnected world. I commend ESA’s track record in fostering innovation in the European space industry and realizing new ways to ensure the sustainable use of space, and ESA’s partnership projects as a trusted partner for investors, operators and industry. I am proud of my role. ”
British Minister of Science, George FreemanSaid, “With thousands of satellites already in orbit and thousands more being launched each year, new technology to address the space debris problem and remove defunct spacecraft and other types of space junk Finding ways to reduce the cost of debris damage is becoming increasingly important. Ensuring space is safe and sustainable for satellite operators. As such, the UK government has made space sustainability a key theme of its National Space Strategy. It’s great to see British companies Astroscale and OneWeb playing a leading role in this European Space Agency project. range.”
Paul Bate The Chief Executive of the British Space Agency said:Space debris threatens the satellites we rely on every day for critical services such as navigation, banking and communications. That is why the UK is taking action by funding new commercial technologies to remove debris from space and working with international partners to lead efforts to promote sustainability. This latest phase of the Sunrise program partnership between the European Space Agency, Astroscale Ltd. and OneWeb has developed an innovative spacecraft, the Servicer, that will remove multiple non-functioning satellites, making the UK a part of space cleanup efforts. Put it in the forefront.”
