MAHIA PENINSULA, New Zealand – Rocket Lab successfully launched an innovative space-junk inspection satellite for the Japanese company Astroscale on Sunday morning. The Astroscale ADRAS-J satellite was lifted atop an Electron rocket from Rocket Lab’s New Zealand launch site at 9:52 a.m. EST.
The purpose of the ADRAS-J mission is to safely approach and characterize an existing piece of large debris through rendezvous and proximity operations. Astroscale CEO and founder Nobu Okada expressed excitement for the groundbreaking mission in a video statement.
The satellite, weighing 330 pounds, is part of Astroscale’s mission to test technologies and operations for approaching and monitoring space junk. The ultimate goal is to ensure the sustainable use of space for future generations as the issue of space debris continues to grow.
ADRAS-J is just one phase of Astroscale’s orbital debris removal program, with plans to capture and remove defunct satellites from orbit in the near future. The mission marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to lead to a sustainable future in space.
The Electron rocket successfully deployed ADRAS-J 373 miles above Earth, in the same orbital neighborhood as the Japanese H-2A rocket upper stage that the satellite is designed to inspect. ADRAS-J will spend the next three to six months in its mission to inspect the space junk and deliver data that will assist in removing debris to ensure sustainable use of space.
This mission is the second for Rocket Lab in 2024 and marks another successful step in their efforts to contribute to sustainable space exploration. With the growth of space debris as a major concern, the success of the ADRAS-J mission represents a significant achievement in humanity’s efforts to address this ongoing problem.