Japanese space startup Astroscale launched its satellite "ADRAS-J" in February 2024. The satellite's mission was to inspect the upper stage of Japan's H-2A rocket launched in 2009. The 11-meter-long, 3-ton metal object had been drifting in low Earth orbit for 15 years at the time. ADRAS-J successfully approached the debris, orbited around it, and captured high-resolution images. In December of the same year, it closed to within just 15 meters of the debris. It marked the first time a commercial satellite operated by a private company used rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) technology to approach space debris at such close range. Astroscale is currently developing a follow-up satellite, ADRAS-J2, to actually capture the debris and drag it into the atmosphere for disposal. The company plans more than eight missions over the next three years and has secured contracts from government agencies including JAXA, the U.S. Space Force, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the UK Space Agency.
According to the space industry on the 25th, the number of space startups researching technologies to deal with space debris has been growing worldwide. The key to space debris cleanup satellites lies in the removal method. "Docking," where two objects meet in space, is only possible when both share positional data and are equipped with devices to match speed. However, space debris cannot communicate and cannot control its own position or orientation, making such docking extremely difficult.
Astroscale has a competitive edge in "rendezvous" technology — the ability to approach debris with these characteristics at close range. The company specializes in close-approach inspection, and its follow-up removal missions are expected to incorporate capture techniques using magnets or robotic arms.
Methods for capturing space debris are also drawing attention from the scientific community. ESA has partnered with Swiss startup ClearSpace to prepare for the launch of the world's first commercial space debris removal satellite in 2028. The company is developing a system in which four robotic arms grab the debris before both the satellite and the debris re-enter the atmosphere together. Japanese satellite communications firm SKY Perfect JSAT is developing a non-contact removal technology that uses lasers to vaporize part of the debris surface and alter its orbit. When a laser is fired from a distance of tens of meters, part of the surface instantly vaporizes, generating a subtle reaction force that can stop the debris from spinning or reduce its speed, guiding it to a lower orbit. The technology has the advantage of requiring no physical contact with the object, but full-scale commercial deployment in actual orbit is expected to take more time.
In 2018, the "RemoveDEBRIS" project led by the UK's Surrey Space Centre and SSTL drew attention after successfully capturing a target with a net in space. The satellite tested the technology on an artificial target deployed during the mission. Notably, the mission's main body was equipped with a drag sail, designed to enable faster deorbiting after the mission's completion.
The market is paying close attention to the economic potential of the space cleanup industry. As global governance on space debris management strengthens, the need for satellites equipped with related technologies will only grow. According to the latest report from global market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the global space debris monitoring and removal market is estimated at $1.159 billion (1.73 trillion won) in 2025 and is projected to grow to $2.158 billion (3.22 trillion won) by 2034.