June 24th, 2024
Fixed-Point Observation Images of Space Debris Released 

One of the images of the target space debris taken during the “fixed-point observation” (H-IIA upper stage, which launched Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), also known as Ibuki in 2009). 

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The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) advanced the Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) Phase I project, under which the demonstration satellite Astroscale’s ADRAS-J successfully captured images of space debris, a non-cooperative target, through “fixed-point observation.” These images have been released by Astroscale Japan Inc. 

The “fixed-point observation service” is one of four services that JAXA requires for Phase I of CRD2. This service involves observing the target debris from a fixed point in the target’s orbital coordinate system and providing continuous images of the target with the required image quality and data volume.