Spacecraft Executes Bold Maneuver Near Orbital Metal Object

A Japanese spacecraft, part of Astroscale's ADRAS-J mission, has made a historic close approach to a discarded rocket stage in Earth's orbit, coming within 15 meters of the debris. This mission is part of JAXA's initiative to remove space junk, aiming to eventually capture and deorbit the three-ton rocket stage. Although the spacecraft had to abort its approach due to a collision avoidance system trigger, the mission demonstrated precise maneuvering capabilities. A follow-up mission, ADRAS-J2, is planned for 2028 to further address space debris issues.