ADRAS-J2 Debris Capture Spacecraft
Astroscale U.S.
Follow-on active debris removal spacecraft that will physically capture and deorbit an unprepared H-IIA rocket upper stage using an in-house robotic arm, representing JAXA's CRD2 Phase II program.
Technical specifications
- Mission Status
- Under development
- Customer
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
- Program
- CRD2 Phase II
- Contract Value
- ~13.2 billion yen (including tax)
- Selection Date
- April 25, 2024
- Target
- Unprepared H-IIA upper stage rocket body
- Capture Technology
- Robotic arm (in-house design)
About
ADRAS-J2 is Astroscale’s follow-on active debris removal mission under Phase II of JAXA’s CRD2 program. Building directly on inspection data gathered by ADRAS-J, the spacecraft will perform the complete debris removal sequence: approach the same H-IIA rocket upper stage via RPO, capture it using an in-house robotic arm, and deorbit the object.
The mission presents a significantly greater technical challenge than ADRAS-J because the target is an unprepared object — no docking interface, no cooperative signals, and potential slow tumbling. Robotic capture requires autonomous vision-based guidance, real-time adaptation to debris attitude, and a robust arm capable of grasping irregular rocket structures.
Astroscale Japan was selected for CRD2 Phase II on April 25, 2024, and the contract (valued at approximately 13.2 billion yen including tax) was formally secured on August 20, 2024.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
