December 22, 2022
The company develops service satellites designed to clear space debris and perform maintenance work that extends the life of communication satellites. The activity in Israel is based on the company Effective Spice which was sold to the Japanese Astroscale
In the photo above: Ofir Azriel (right) and Aryeh Halzband. Photography: Ami Ehrlich
Ofir Azriel was appointed CEO of Astroscale Israel (Astroscale) in place of Aryeh Halzband, who announced his retirement. Helzband will continue to serve as a senior advisor to the global company. 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.
Hiring more employees
Astroscale Israel employs about 40 people and plans to recruit additional employees as part of staffing the new laboratories. Aryeh Halzband is the former director of the Mabat Halal plant in the aerospace industry and a veteran of the Israeli space industry. He joined the Aerospace Industry in 1986, and participated in leading the development and production programs of “Ofek”, “Amos”, “Texar”, and “Eros” satellites. In the five years in which he managed Mabat Halal, he was responsible for the entry of the aerospace industry into the field of nanosatellites, which is currently growing rapidly.
Ofir Azriel (43) has 20 years of experience in the space industry. In the last seven years, he held the position of VP of Technologies and Vice President of Engineering at Astroscale Israel (in its previous incarnation as Effective Spice). He accompanied Helzband during the company’s acquisition and merger processes and worked together with him to build the laboratory for mechanical design, production and assembly of standard space systems and a robotic laboratory for computer vision. The products of the new facilities will be integrated into Astroscale’s global service satellites. “Astroscale Israel is an important research and development center for our service satellites,” said Astroscale USA President and CEO, Ron Lopez. “I am convinced that under Ofir’s leadership, it will continue to be a pillar in global society and in the Israeli space industry.”
Posted in the categories: people, news, space, Israeli industry
Posted in tags: astroscale, halzband, space, satellites
