Astroscale Wins New UKSA Study for Refueling Mission

Artistic render image of the refueler servicer (top right), using two robotic arms to stable and refuel UK ADR COSMIC servicer. Photo: Astroscale UK

Astroscale will play a key role in a UK Space Agency (UKSA) Active Debris Removal (ADR) Refueling feasibility study. Astroscale has placed a successful bid to lead this study, the company announced March 5.

This 2 million pound ($2.54 million) UKSA study is focused on the refueling of the UK’s first active debris removal (ADR) mission, for which Astroscale UK is also under contract to develop its COSMIC servicer spacecraft, in addition to a second commercial client to be determined, not only addressing the technological barriers in this mission, but also continuing to grow the in-orbit economy.

For this new project, Astroscale UK has assembled a team to carry out the study and, in turn, will execute the refueling mission by strategically harnessing the UK supply chain’s existing relationships from Astroscale’s program, ELSA-M, and from the COSMIC program to maximize benefits for UK industrial entities engaged in ADR. It will work with the likes of Thales Alenia Space UK; Airbus Defence & Space UK; Orbit Fab UK and GMV UK on the project.

“Until recently, satellites have been designed as one-shot items: non-refuelable with mission lifespans coming to an end when the satellite can no longer maneuver effectively. By investing in innovations such as Astroscale’s adapted COSMIC spacecraft, the UKSA is developing new capabilities for performing in-orbit tasks, such as refueling, and increasing the sustainability of space operations,” Ray Fielding, head of Space Sustainability, UKSA, said in a statement.