Space cleaner: another step towards clearing the Earth's orbit of debris (photo)

On Friday, April 26, the private Japanese company Astroscale captured a huge piece of space debris. Astroscale develops satellite decommissioning and active debris removal services to reduce the dangerous accumulation of debris in space.

This was reported by SSPDaily.

"The image was acquired by Astroscale-Japan's commercial space debris research demonstration satellite Active Debris Removal (ADRAS-J) from a distance of several hundred meters from the space debris. The unprecedented image marks a crucial step toward understanding and solving space debris problems, contributing to progress toward a safer and more sustainable space environment," the statement said.

The object in the photo, which is drifting in space, turned out to be the first stage of the Japanese H-2A rocket. This rocket launched the GOSAT satellite into orbit in 2009, leaving behind a piece of space debris 11 meters long and weighing about 3 tons.

The ADRAS-J satellite weighing 150 kilograms was launched into Earth orbit on February 18, 2024. The main task of the probe is to safely approach the object and study it. After the ADRAS-J mission receives additional images of space debris, the company will develop a program to remove it. According to preliminary plans, the satellite with a robotic "arm" will pull the debris out of orbit to burn in the Earth's atmosphere.