ELSA-M [株式会社アストロスケールホールディングス]

Description

The ELSA-M [ELSA-M] is a multi-client debris removal spacecraft designed to perform active de-orbiting of defunct satellites from Low Earth Orbit. It serves as the commercial follow-on to the ELSA-d [ELSA-d] technology demonstrator, which successfully tested magnetic docking and proximity operations. The vehicle is engineered to rendezvous with, capture, and safely lower the orbital altitude of multiple targets during a single mission lifecycle, ensuring they burn up upon atmospheric re-entry. Target customers include commercial constellation operators and national space agencies responding to stricter orbital sustainability regulations. The service is typically provided as a per-satellite disposal contract, reducing the liability and technical burden on the original satellite owner. Notable partners in the system's development and upcoming deployment include the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency [Agence spatiale européenne], and OneWeb, which has equipped its fleet with compatible docking plates. A significant constraint for current operations is the requirement for client satellites to be pre-fitted with specific magnetic docking interfaces, limiting the system's utility for legacy debris. The Aerospace Garage desk would seek to verify the propulsion efficiency for multi-target missions and the autonomy of the proximity navigation software under varied lighting conditions. Verification of insurance liability frameworks for third-party orbital interference is also recommended for prospective buyers.