Spaceflight

Astroscale has completed the critical design review of a servicer aiming to remove a OneWeb broadband satellite from low Earth orbit (LEO) next year, the Japanese venture’s British subsidiary announced June 4.

The review clears the way for assembly, integration and testing of the 500-kilogram servicer’s flight model under ELSA-M, or End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-Multiple.

Mostly funded by Astroscale with support from the UK Space Agency, ELSA-M would use a magnetic mechanism to capture a defunct OneWeb satellite equipped with a compatible docking plate, then release it on a controlled path to burn up in the atmosphere.