Astroscale's ADRAS-J is the world's first commercial spacecraft to perform rendezvous and proximity operations with an existing piece of large, non-cooperative space debris, paving the way for active debris removal services.
ADRAS-J
Astroscale's ADRAS-J is the world's first commercial spacecraft to perform rendezvous and proximity operations with an existing piece of large, non-cooperative space debris, paving the way for active debris removal services.
Description
ADRAS-J (Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan) is a rendezvous and proximity operations demonstration spacecraft built by Astroscale Japan under Phase I of JAXA's Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration program. Its purpose is to safely approach, inspect, and characterize a large piece of uncooperative, tumbling orbital debris (a derelict Japanese H-2A rocket upper stage, approximately 11m long, 4m in diameter, and roughly 3 tons) without prior knowledge of its exact motion, using onboard imaging sensors and autonomous navigation. Launched on a Rocket Lab Electron in February 2024, ADRAS-J executed a phased approach campaign: reaching within 50 meters in May 2024, conducting fly-around observations in July 2024, and achieving a historic 15-meter approach in November 2024 - the closest distance any commercial company has approached uncontrolled debris via RPO. Having completed all Phase I demonstration objectives, ADRAS-J began deorbit operations in March 2026, setting the stage for ADRAS-J2 (CRD2 Phase II, targeted for fiscal year 2027), which will use robotic arm capture technology to physically remove and deorbit the same debris object.
Specifications
| Mission phase | CRD2 Phase I (JAXA contract) |
|---|---|
| Launch date | February 18, 2024 |
| Launch vehicle | Rocket Lab Electron |
| Customer | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) |
| Propulsion | 12x 1N thrusters, ammonium dinitramide-based monopropellant |
| Target debris object | H-2A rocket upper stage: ~11 m long, ~4 m diameter, ~3 tons |
| Closest approach achieved | 15 meters (November 30, 2024) - closest commercial RPO approach to uncontrolled debris to date |
| Flight heritage/status (mid-2026) | Launched Feb 2024; completed long-range approach, fly-around, and 15 m close approach demonstrations; Phase I declared complete; began deorbit operations March 25, 2026; successor ADRAS-J2 planned for fiscal year 2027 |
