In Development
ADRAS-J2
Debris removal servicer built for Phase II of JAXA's Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration program. It returns to the same spent H-IIA upper stage that ADRAS-J surveyed, captures it with a robotic arm, and deorbits it.
AstroscaleELSA-M
In Development
Commercial end-of-life servicer that docks with a prepared client satellite using a magnetic docking plate and drags it down to a disposal orbit. Designed to service multiple satellites on a single mission.
Latest update Sep 17, 2026
01
Current status
Billed as the world's first commercial end-of-life service for prepared satellites. Astroscale selected Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket in March 2026 to launch the in-orbit demonstration. The ELSA-M mission page still lists status as under development, with customers Eutelsat, ESA and UKSA, and CDR complete. Q1 materials said thermal-vacuum tests at Airbus were complete, with electromagnetic-compatibility tests next. Spectrum reached orbit on September 5, 2026, the flight heritage Astroscale had said it wanted first. The launch itself is still Astroscale's FY2028 (from May 2027) or later.
02
Specifications2
03
Upcoming milestones1
Announced next steps from Astroscale that mention ELSA-M.
FY2028 or later
Launch ELSA-M and prove commercial end-of-life deorbiting
Fly the ELSA-M in-orbit demonstration on Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket and dock with a prepared client satellite to deorbit it, converting a decade of capture research into a service satellite operators can buy before launch. Q1 materials said thermal-vacuum tests at Airbus were complete, with EMC tests next. Spectrum reached orbit on September 5, 2026. The launch itself is still Astroscale's FY2028 (from May 2027) or later.
04
In the news1
Astroscale picks Isar Aerospace to launch ADRAS-J2
Astroscale Japan said on September 1, 2026 it selected Isar Aerospace to launch its ADRAS-J2 debris-removal spacecraft on a Spectrum rocket from Andoya Spaceport in Norway, targeting a 2027-2028 window. ADRAS-J2, contracted under JAXA's Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration program, will attempt to capture and deorbit the same derelict rocket upper stage that Astroscale's ADRAS-J spacecraft inspected up close before completing its mission earlier this year. It is Isar's second Astroscale launch contract, after being picked in March 2026 to fly the ELSA-M demonstration mission.
05
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ISSA-J1
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06
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