February 27, 2023
The Japanese company develops service satellites for clearing space debris and extending the life of satellites, and has an important R&D center in Israel, based on the purchase of Effective Space. The company established an innovative laboratory and clean room in Israel
The Japanese company Astroscale, which develops service satellites for clearing space debris and extending the life of satellites, Closed a G fundraising round in the amount of 76 million dollars. Among the new investors are Mitsubishi Electric entrepreneur and investor Yusaku Mazawa, who is the first Japanese citizen to visit the International Space Station, the Development Bank of Japan ו-FEL Corporation.
The total amount of money raised by the company since its establishment, including the current round, is about 376 million dollars. Astroscale has a significant R&D center in Israel, employing several dozen employees.
The Japanese company Astroscale develops service satellites for clearing space debris and extending the life of satellites. It was established in 2013 and develops satellites for the disposal of space debris, such as missile parts, satellite parts and parts of equipment sent into space. These pieces continue to orbit the Earth and endanger new space programs. The company’s satellites cling to the out-of-service satellite using magnets, diverting it from its orbit. In March 2021, Astroscale launched into space the first debris removal satellite, ELSA-d, designed to demonstrate the technology. The company is preparing to provide the service to governments and private space companies starting in 2025.
Etroscale Israel’s activity is based on the Israeli company Effective Space Solutions, which was acquired by it in June 2020. Effective Space developed a microsatellite called Space Drone, which provides life extension services to communication satellites located in geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km. The lifespan of communication satellites is limited by the amount of fuel in their tanks. The ESS satellite is designed to access communication satellites at the end of their lifetime, and perform an activity that will extend their life, for example fuel supply which in many cases eliminates the need to launch a new satellite. Last month, she inaugurated a clean room in Tel Aviv for the production and assembly of space systems, and a robotic laboratory that will be used to develop and test algorithms for locating objects in space and sticking to them.
according to Ofir Azriel, was appointed CEO of Astroscale Israel in December, the global economy is more dependent on satellite data than at any time in history, and this dependence is only increasing. “Astroscale is a pioneer in the development of services for satellites in orbit, such as disposal of satellites that have reached the end of their lives, active space debris removal and extending the life of satellites. The demand for our solutions is increasing and the preparation in Israel is accordingly.” Last year, the company in Tel Aviv inaugurated a new laboratory for computer vision and a clean room for mechanical design, production and assembly of standard space systems.
Published in the categories: capital raising, news
Posted in Tags: Astroscale
