Astroscale

Type: Company (Satellite Servicing)

Astroscale is a satellite servicing and debris removal company building the spacecraft that perform close-proximity operations — inspection, life extension, and refueling. While Orbit Fab provides the fuel infrastructure and standardized interfaces, Astroscale builds the vehicles that fly to client satellites and execute the servicing mission.

The company has demonstrated proximity operations with its LEXI mission and is building the servicing spacecraft for the Orbit Fab partnership targeting the first commercial GEO refueling in June 2026. Astroscale's broader vision encompasses active debris removal — capturing and deorbiting defunct satellites to address the growing orbital debris problem.

Astroscale operates at the intersection of commercial opportunity and regulatory necessity. As orbit congestion increases, space sustainability services (debris removal, end-of-life deorbiting) may become mandated by space agencies, creating a regulatory-driven market beyond voluntary commercial demand.

Key Contributions

• Building servicing spacecraft for first GEO refueling mission (June 2026) with Orbit Fab (Orbit Fab + Astroscale)
• LEXI mission demonstrated close-proximity satellite inspection operations (Orbit Fab + Astroscale)
• ADRAS-J / CRD2 Phase 1: Acquired imagery of defunct Japanese rocket body from within 15 meters — closest proximity operations to non-cooperative debris ever performed (Japan ADR Framework)
• CRD2 Phase 2 (2027): Planning actual debris capture and deorbit with JAXA (Japan ADR Framework)
• APS-R Mission (Space Force, 2026): Prime contractor for first US military GEO refueling demo — triple-refueling chain (depot → servicer → two Tetra-5 satellites) (Space Force Refueling Demos)

Mentioned In

• On-Orbit Servicing — Servicing spacecraft operator
• Active Debris Removal — Global ADR market leader; ADRAS-J / CRD2
• Satellite Propulsion — Servicing extends satellite propulsion lifetimes

Related Entities

• Orbit Fab — Fuel infrastructure partner
• JAXA — CRD2 program partner
• Space Force — APS-R mission customer