Airbus has procured 100 docking plates from Astroscale to support post-mission satellite removal, aiming to mitigate space debris accumulation. This marks Astroscale’s first large-scale order, following two test missions demonstrating close-proximity operations and rendezvous and docking technologies in low Earth orbit (LEO). The Generation 2 docking plates acquired by Airbus, compatible with both robotic arms and magnetic capture methods, were introduced by Astroscale in 2023 and have undergone multiple test missions.
Nick Shave, Managing Director at Astroscale UK, stated, “This milestone order from Airbus underscores the industry’s increasing commitment to sustainable space operations. The Astroscale second-generation docking plate is more than a product; it’s a critical step toward future-proofing satellites for in-orbit servicing and end-of-life debris mitigation.”
Designed for a lifespan exceeding 15 years in space, the docking plates feature specialized markers to assist debris removal spacecraft in determining the target’s position and tumbling rate, facilitating safe approach and capture.
Astroscale developed these docking plates during their ELSA-d and ADRAS-J demonstration missions:
Airbus, known for manufacturing satellites for Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation, plans to integrate the docking plates into an unspecified LEO constellation. According to an Astroscale spokesperson, this technology is adaptable to “almost any smallsat-class” spacecraft.
Looking ahead, Astroscale intends to remove a OneWeb satellite in 2027 as part of its ELSA-M (End-of-Life by Astroscale-Multiple) demonstration. This mission aims to establish a commercial service capable of removing multiple satellites from orbit sequentially using a single servicer spacecraft.
