"Japanese Missions Lead the Way in Space Debris Removal and Inspection"
Astroscale's ADRAS-J mission, launched on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket, aims to demonstrate the necessary operations and technology for commercial removal of space debris in low-Earth orbit (LEO). The mission will approach, characterize, and fly around a large uncommunicative piece of space debris to showcase the technology needed for precise rendezvous with a non-responsive target object. This initiative aligns with efforts to make space safe and sustainable, as the increasing number of satellites and space debris poses a hazard to spacecraft and the risk of orbital decay. Other organizations and missions, such as ELSA-D, COSMIC, and ClearSpace, are also working on orbital debris management and removal.