Astroscale UK is celebrating a remarkable year of progress in advancing in-orbit servicing capabilities and positioning the UK as a leader in the fast-growing In-orbit Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing (ISAM) market.
ELSA-M: Leading the charge for satellite end-of-life services
In July, Astroscale UK secured €13.95 million (£11.78 million) in funding from the UK Space Agency and ESA, as part of the Eutelsat OneWeb Sunrise Programme, to complete the final phase of the ELSA-M in-orbit demonstration. As the first commercial service for de-orbiting prepared satellites, ELSA-M represents a monumental leap in orbital sustainability. Building on the success of the ELSA-d mission in 2021, ELSA-M will demonstrate critical capabilities, including uncooperative Rendezvous Proximity Operations (RPO), docking, and de-orbiting, a Eutelsat OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) spacecraft.
With its launch scheduled in 2026, the ELSA-M mission underlines Astroscale’s leadership in delivering reliable and cost-effective satellite servicing solutions.
COSMIC: Targeting debris removal
In September, Astroscale UK secured a £1.95 million contract from the UK Space Agency, as part of the UK’s Active Debris Removal mission, to support the Phase 2 development of its COSMIC (Cleaning Outer Space Mission through Innovative Capture) spacecraft. This programme focuses on the removal of two inactive British satellites.
Key advancements in this phase include refining robotic capture and debris detumbling technologies, ensuring a safe and highly reliable ADR capability for the UK. Spearheading sovereign innovation, manufacturing and operations for COSMIC will take place at Astroscale’s Zeus facility in Harwell Oxfordshire, supported by collaborations with leading space innovators, including Airbus Defence & Space UK, Nammo UK, Thales Alenia Space UK, MDA, and others.
Second-generation docking plates: Future-proofing satellites
Astroscale achieved a major milestone with the full qualification and first sales of its second-generation docking plates. These upgraded docking plates, first tested in space during the ELSA-d mission, provide a simple yet critical interface for enabling safe capture and removal of satellites at the end of their operational life. Fully qualified through rigorous testing, these docking plates align with international best practices, ensuring satellites launched today are ready for future sustainability efforts.
In-orbit servicing market: A £14 billion opportunity
The In-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) market is estimated to be worth £14 billion by 2031, driven by rising demand for satellite maintenance, debris removal, and orbital sustainability solutions. With over 10,000 operational satellites in-orbit today and tens of thousands more planned for launch in the next decade, the industry’s growth potential is immense. Astroscale is poised to capture a significant share of this market, leveraging its proven technology, operational expertise, and strategic partnerships.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond
As the world leader in satellite servicing, Astroscale enters the new year with strong momentum. Astroscale UK remains committed to advancing sustainable space practices, supporting the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in the space economy, and addressing the growing challenge of orbital debris. With milestones like the ELSA-M demonstration, COSMIC advancements, and innovative docking plate technologies, Astroscale is leading the charge to develop reliable and cost-effective in-orbit servicing capability.
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