Japan is planning to clear space debris

Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has teamed up with several private companies on the CRD2 project. The aim is to remove space debris from orbit.

The initial stage of the mission involves launching spacecraft to study debris in orbit. The ADRAS-J satellite, provided by Astroscale, a JAXA partner, plays a crucial role in the project. The satellite will be equipped with cameras and a lidar to gather all the necessary information. The first object to be examined will be the last stage of the rocket launched from Japan. Currently, it does not perform any functions and is literally junk.

After a careful examination, the object will be deorbited. This will be achieved through utilising the Electron rocket from the start-up Rocket Lab. The company also works in collaboration with JAXA. They have also signed a contract to launch another space scavenger from the Finnish manufacturer Aurora. The launch will take place in 2023. The second stage of the mission is scheduled for 2025.