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Astroscale completes CDR for ELSA-M In-Orbit debris removal mission

This demonstration includes docking, de-orbiting, and releasing a Eutelsat OneWeb client spacecraft managed through Astroscale’s in-house satellite operations facility. Astroscale has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for its upcoming ELSA-M (End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-Multiple) In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) spacecraft, marking a major milestone in the development of what is set to become the world’s first commercial end-of-life servicing mission for satellites prepared for docking and removal. The mission, scheduled to launch in 2026, will demonstrate cutting-edge technologies aimed at addressing the growing challenge of orbital debris. Designed, built, and operated by Astroscale UK at its Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, ELSA-M will showcase advanced Rendezvous Proximity Operations (RPO) capabilities. The CDR milestone was achieved following a comprehensive technical evaluation by teams from the European Space Agency (ESA) and satellite operator Eutelsat, encompassing all aspects of engineering, programme management, and product assurance. This achievement confirms the UK’s leadership in Active Debris Removal (ADR) and advances its role in the fast-growing field of In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM). The ELSA-M mission is a collaborative effort funded primarily through Astroscale’s private investment, with co-funding support from the UK Space Agency via ESA and Eutelsat under the Sunrise Partnership Project. The initiative falls within ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme, designed to develop next-generation satellite communications technologies. Nick Shave, Managing Director, Astroscale UK, said: 'Completing the Critical Design Review for ELSA-M is both a major step for the mission itself and also a major achievement for the UK ISAM industry. The mission is a true partnership between Astroscale UK, the UK Space Agency, ESA and Eutelsat with many industrial partners in the Astroscale ISAM supply chain across all regions of the UK. With the ever-growing number of satellites in Earth’s orbit, the robust RPO and spacecraft capture capability provided by ELSA-M will revolutionise the delivery of repeatable ADR and other ISAM services as part of a future circular space economy.' Joshua King, Telecommunications Investment Lead at the UK Space Agency, added: 'We are excited to support Astroscale UK’s pioneering ELSA-M mission, which represents a significant leap forward in satellite servicing and orbital sustainability. This milestone not only underscores the UK’s leadership in ADR but also highlights our commitment to providing new technologies and capabilities to support satellite communications. The successful completion of the Critical Design Review is a testament to the exceptional collaboration between Astroscale, ESA, and Eutelsat within the Sunrise Partnership, and we look forward to the successful launch next year.' Laurent Jaffart, Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications at ESA, stated: 'Space is a common good, like the oceans, and we need to treat it responsibly. ESA welcomed Astroscale’s active engagement and signature of ESA’s Zero Debris Charter in June 2024, which contains high-level guiding principles and specific jointly defined targets to achieve zero debris by 2030. We are pleased to be supporting Astroscale to demonstrate the commercial viability of space debris removal, building on state-of-the-art technologies to create new missions that attract talent and investment. ESA fosters European and Canadian innovation in the highly competitive global satellite market.' Guillaume Scottez, Senior Director for Innovation at Eutelsat Group, commented: 'Astroscale’s successful CDR marks a positive progression for our joint efforts to support, test, and validate innovative in-orbit servicing technologies, crucial for the long-term preservation of space as a valuable natural resource. With this milestone, we look forward to our continued collaboration with ESA, the UK Space Agency, and Astroscale to advance our mission.' ELSA-M builds on the success of Astroscale’s 2021 ELSA-d mission, which demonstrated critical technologies such as magnetic capture and controlled close-approach operations. With the CDR now complete, ELSA-M moves into the next phase involving spacecraft assembly, integration, testing, launch preparations, and a series of in-orbit demonstrations. These will include docking with, de-orbiting, and releasing a Eutelsat OneWeb client satellite, all managed through Astroscale’s own satellite operations center.