This is what a decades-old piece of space junk floating in Earth’s orbit looks like from just 50 meters (164 feet) away.
What you’re looking at is the upper stage of a discarded Japanese rocket. Earth observation satellite The main body of the rocket, launched in 2009, was launched on May 23rd. ADRAS-J satelliteIt was designed by the private Japanese company Astroscale to approach and study unreachable, uncontrollable orbital debris.
Images and data collected during these inspections will document the condition of the failed satellite, including its structural integrity after being adrift in harsh environments. space For years, the satellites will not transmit. GPS According to Astroscale, ADRAS-J will approach and photograph itself to send a signal to Earth, and eventually be removed from orbit to demonstrate technology that can be used by in-orbit servicing for satellite maintenance, space debris capture and deorbiting.
ADRAS-J is the abbreviation for Astroscale Japan’s Active Debris Removal. Release In orbit Rocket Labof Electron Rocket It launched on February 18. By April, the 330-pound (150-kilogram) probe had successfully used its onboard cameras to approach an orbit within a few hundred meters of its target — the upper stage of Japan’s H-2A rocket, which launched the GOSAT Earth-observation satellite in 2009. Impressive photos This video, released in late April, commemorates the achievement.
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In an update today (Friday, June 14), Astroscale wrote that ADRAS-J has completed a safe and controlled approach to the 36-foot-long, 13-foot-wide (11-meter by 4-meter) rocket. The latest image is one of many taken by ADRAS-J while it remained in a fixed position relative to the upper stage, and the company added that it plans to soon take additional photos of the target through various approach maneuvers.
Space flight historian Günter Krebs Previously mentioned ADRAS-J is not the first mission to take close-up images of space debris: In 2003, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s XSS-10 satellite photographed the spent upper stage of a Delta II rocket, but those tasks were less complicated than ADRAS-J’s.
After successfully completing a safe and controlled approach of the crippled rocket, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) selected Astroscale for the second phase of the mission, which will involve using a robotic arm to capture and remove the rocket body. Lightweight Above International Space Station.
“The next step is Space debris “We aim to address this issue and lay the foundation for a sustainable environment for future generations,” said Eddie Kato, president of Astroscale Japan. Previous statement.