Astroscale has been awarded a contract under the Sunrise Project, a Public-Private Partnership led by the European Space Agency (ESA) and OneWeb, a global communications company on a mission to connect the unconnected through a global satellite constellation.

The Sunrise Project, which is a part of the ESA ARTES programme, was created to develop technologies for future generation telecommunication satellite missions and to advance Active Debris Removal (ADR) capabilities in low Earth orbit.

Under the contract, Astroscale, which was selected for the programme alongside other industry partners, will improve upon the heritage capabilities currently being developed for its End-of Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (ELSA-d) mission, a privately funded demonstration of technologies necessary for orbital debris removal.

Astroscale's Sunrise Project solution will mature the technology required in support of commercial ADR services and help lay the groundwork toward the ultimate goal of a sustainable orbital environment.

"Astroscale is very excited to be partnering with ESA and OneWeb on this project and to be present at the beginning of this new stage of space development," said John Auburn, Astroscale UK Director and Group Chief Commercial Officer.

"As the first commercial organisation to invest in space debris removal, Astroscale is well placed to be working with OneWeb, a pioneering company that is at the forefront of the emerging space ecosystem. This collaboration demonstrates the commitment of ESA, OneWeb and Astroscale to actively manage in-orbit debris and we hope that the technologies developed will help keep space sustainable for future generations."

"OneWeb believes that space is a global, shared natural resource, and it is up to all of us to protect the environment in which we operate," said Tim Maclay, OneWeb's Director of Mission Systems Engineering.

"At OneWeb, we are committed to the employment of responsible satellite design and operational practices and to the development of new technologies that promote space environmental stewardship. We are proud to be partnering with ESA and Astroscale to advance ADR concepts, technologies, and business strategies for the future of all space users."

Wael El-Dali, Project Manager at ESA, added, "Meeting the challenges of new satellite constellations requires a high level of innovation in diverse fields. We are delighted that new space companies like

Astroscale and OneWeb can use the versatility of our ARTES programme to help them deliver world- leading innovation in a fast moving and highly competitive market".

The Astroscale contract is for a period of 12 months and is expected to be completed by April 2020.

Related Links
Astroscale
Space Technology News - Applications and Research

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