JAXA concludes partnership-type contract for Phase I of its
Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2)
March 23, 2020 (JST)
National Research and Development Agency
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
JAXA has contracted with Astroscale for Phase I of its Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) project.
JAXA has initiated CRD2, a project aimed at developing space debris removal as a new space business to realize sustainable space activities.
CRD2 project Phase I is the first step toward realizing the world's first removal of large space debris.(*1) The project will demonstrate key technologies for rendezvous and proximity operations relative to non-cooperative targets.(*2) It will also acquire images showing the attitude motion and surface damage of space debris.
The contract with Astroscale marks a new partnership-type attempt to leave discretion to the private sector and develop its competitiveness in the market. Thus, this private company will proactively develop spacecraft and demonstrate technologies based on its business strategy, and JAXA will provide technical support in the form of research and development results, technical advice, and test facilities.
Through this project, JAXA will contribute to the development of new space businesses, the competitiveness of private Japanese companies, and the realization of sustainable space activities.
| (*1) | Based on the results of the CRD2 project Phase I, Phase II will demonstrate the technologies to remove Japanese large space debris. |
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| (*2) | Space debris is a "non-cooperative target" for those who approach and capture it, because it lacks its own orbit determination and attitude control capabilities, and any interface for capture. Rendezvous and proximity operations to this type of target are technically much more difficult than rendezvous docking between operational spacecraft designed for that purpose. |