Astroscale Taps Isar Aerospace for Historic Debris Removal Mission
Astroscale Japan has selected German launch provider Isar Aerospace to deploy ADRAS-J2, a pioneering mission to capture and deorbit a three-ton piece of legacy space junk using robotic arm technology.
Mission Parameters
Astroscale Japan has formalized an agreement with Germany’s Isar Aerospace to launch the ADRAS-J2 mission. According to Payload, the mission is scheduled for Japan’s FY2027 window (April 2027 to March 2028). The deployment will utilize Isar’s Spectrum rocket, launching from the Andøya Space spaceport in Norway.
Objective: Active Debris Removal
ADRAS-J2 represents Phase II of JAXA’s Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) project, a contract valued at approximately ¥13.2 billion (~$82 million). While previous missions have targeted dummy objects, ADRAS-J2 is tasked with capturing a non-cooperative, "clientless" target: a Japanese H-IIA upper stage abandoned in LEO since 2009. The debris measures 11 meters in length and weighs roughly 3 tons.
Building on the 2024 ADRAS-J flyby mission, which performed autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) to inspect the stage, ADRAS-J2 will utilize an in-house robotic arm to physically capture the interface and execute a controlled deorbit.
The Launch Vehicle
Isar Aerospace is still working toward its first successful orbital insertion. Following a lost test flight in March 2025 and a June scrub, the startup intends to fly multiple Spectrum missions to build reliability before the Astroscale deployment. Despite these hurdles, Astroscale expressed confidence in Isar’s precise orbital insertion capabilities. This marks the second collaboration between the firms, following a separate agreement to launch the ELSA-M magnet-based capture mission in 2028.