Astroscale's ADRAS-J Nears Space Junk in Historic 15-Meter Approach

Astroscale's ADRAS-J spacecraft achieved a milestone by approaching within 15 meters of a defunct upper stage rocket, marking the closest approach by a commercial operator to space debris. This maneuver, part of an independent goal by Astroscale, demonstrated advanced Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) capabilities, crucial for future debris removal missions. Although an unexpected issue triggered a collision avoidance maneuver, the mission is a step forward in commercial space junk disposal, with Phase II involving robotic capture operations under a significant contract with JAXA.