Astroscale UK to Develop COSMIC Servicer for Debris Removal

This phase will focus on maturing and mitigating the risks to key technologies identified in previous phases, including robotic capture systems and debris stabilisation technologies. Leveraging Astroscale’s track record of RPO (Rendezvous and Proximity Operations) technology from missions operated by the UK, the company will provide a safe and reliable debris removal technology.

Astroscale UK will collaborate with experienced industry leaders across the UK and Europe, including Airbus Defence and Space UK, MDA UK, Nammo UK, Thales Alenia Space UK, GMV UK, AVS UK, D-Orbit UK, Redwire, and DLR, to develop the COSMIC servicer.

The company will also continue to work with a supply chain of approximately 100 companies across the UK, and will develop, assemble, and operate COSMIC at its UK Zeus facility. This will support highly skilled jobs and promote collaboration across the space cluster.

The COSMIC servicer will be a technological evolution of Astroscale’s ELSA-M. ELSA-M, scheduled for launch in the fiscal year ending April 2026, will be the world’s first EOL mission to provide an end-of-life service for satellites that are being prepared for capture or removal at the end of their operational life.

Astroscale Holdings’ Japanese subsidiary, Astroscale Corporation, has been conducting the ADRAS-J mission, which began in February 2024 as part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Commercial Debris Removal Demonstration (CRD2) Phase I. The company has successfully approached to within 50m of the target debris and conducted orbital observations.

Astroscale UK’s development of the UK’s on-orbit services supply chain is set to make a major contribution to the UK, supporting highly skilled jobs and promoting collaboration across the space cluster. The company has been selected as the contracting party for CRD2 Phase II, which will also involve debris removal.

COSMIC will be developed, built, and operated at Astroscale’s Zeus facility in the UK, delivering significant benefits to the UK. Furthermore, Astroscale’s supply chain for in-orbit servicing will strongly support the creation and retention of highly skilled jobs, and enhanced collaboration with space clusters across the UK.

Key Partnerships and Collaborations

• Airbus Defence and Space UK
• MDA UK
• Nammo UK
• Thales Alenia Space UK
• GMV UK
• AVS UK
• D-Orbit UK
• Redwire
• DLR

Benefits to the UK

• Support for highly skilled jobs
• Promotion of collaboration across the space cluster
• Development of the UK’s on-orbit services supply chain
• Creation and retention of highly skilled jobs
• Enhanced collaboration with space clusters across the UK