ELSA-m, a space robot that will de-orbit inoperable satellites, unveiled

Japan's Astroscale has unveiled another vehicle that will be involved in debris removal in space. It's called ELSA-m.

Here's What We Know

The company has a device in its portfolio called ELSA-d. It is a space tractor with magnetic pick-up function. It was put into orbit in 2021, but operations ceased a few months later due to the abnormal state of the prime mover.

ELSA-m is a new space scavenger that will be able to safely light several inoperable satellites from orbit and direct them back into the Earth's atmosphere in a single mission. Japanese developers say there are now more than 2,200 satellites in space that have ceased to function. Now they are only a threat to other satellites.

Astroscale has shown how the scavenger works. ELSA-m will be able to explore a satellite on its own and dock with it. The robot will then use its own engines to bring the satellite into a lower orbit. ELSA-m can then undock and re-orbit the satellite to select the next target.

Source: space