"Japan's Astroscale Satellite Launches Bold Mission to Inspect Space Debris"

Astroscale, a Japanese startup, has launched a small satellite to approach and capture a defunct upper stage from a Japanese H-IIA rocket that has been orbiting Earth for over 15 years. The satellite will perform complex maneuvers to move within arm's reach of the rocket, marking the first-ever approach of actual space debris. This mission, called ADRAS-J, is a crucial step towards demonstrating capabilities for removing large space debris and could also apply to satellite servicing or refueling missions. If successful, it could pave the way for a follow-on mission to capture and remove the H-IIA upper stage from orbit.