From left: Astroscale CEO Nobu Okada, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Astroscale France Managing Director Philippe Blatt, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Exotrail CEO Jean-Luc Maria. Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office via Astroscale

Astroscale and Exotrail will develop a satellite de-orbiting mission together. This new contract brings together Japanese and French expertise in on-orbit servicing to develop a capability for safely removing satellites from Low-Earth Orbit by 2030. The two companies announced the deal, April 2.

The signing took place during a high-level visit to Astroscale’s headquarters in Tokyo by French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The visit aimed to highlight the role of international commercial companies in addressing on-orbit servicing needs while strengthening national capabilities. Discussions between France and Japan here also covered Astroscale’s investment in France, operations in Paris and Toulouse, and ongoing expansion to support national and European space priorities through the France 2030 investment plan.

The companies first announced intent to collaborate on a de-orbit mission earlier this year. The mission will bring together Exotrail’s spacevan vehicle with Astroscale’s heritage capture system technology and close-proximity operations (RPO) expertise. The contract with Exotrail is aimed at accelerating strategic technologies, strengthening France’s industrial base and contributing to the development of a European ecosystem for satellite servicing and debris mitigation.

“Our relationship builds on Astroscale’s competencies across Japan and France, and reaffirms the French government support for Exotrail through France 2030. We are delighted to team up with Astroscale to further enhance capabilities addressing both the commercial needs of operators, as well as strategic and sovereign endeavors,” Jean-Luc Maria, CEO and co-founder of Exotrail said in a statement.