Astroscale

Lyra recently published an independent integration study examining how a servicing interface fits within an SDA‑class satellite design. Their analysis shows that integrating Astroscale’s Docking Plate requires: 🛰️ ~500 g of mass 🛰️ ~0.4% payload margin 🛰️ No power 🛰️ No internal spacecraft volume At constellation scale, even modest in‑orbit failure rates translate into a measurable number of non‑responsive spacecraft. Designing for serviceability from the outset changes how that risk is handled. Operators preserve the option to intervene before failures accumulate into a fleet-level constraint. This optionality can help avoid large, reactive decisions later in the constellation lifecycle. Serviceability is no longer a "nice to have" add‑on. It’s becoming an expected baseline for a resilient operating model. Independent systems engineering work like Lyra’s helps anchor that shift in real spacecraft constraints, showing how service readiness can be incorporated with minimal impact on mission performance. Lyra’s white paper is well worth reading. https://lnkd.in/gXGGjZ32

No single company builds a mission alone. This is a snapshot of some of the people and organisations working alongside Astroscale. “Industrial partnerships are critical to our mission. Our spacecraft are complex; they have lots of different equipment on board. We’re working hand in hand with our supply chain to deliver these missions, and they are supplying us with world-leading technology. We have excellent suppliers here in the UK that we can utilise to enable our missions to succeed. As we expand our supply chain, we’re not only building advanced ISAM technology and capability, but we’re also enabling economic prosperity across the nation. Together with our industrial partners & suppliers, we are creating the ISAM ecosystem across the full breadth of the UK.” Nick Shave FRAeS

“It was an opportunity to develop a variety of skills across the industry” That’s one of the reasons Leo joined our Astroscale graduate programme in the UK. As part of his journey, he’s got to work across different departments to gain technical awareness and support a mission that he feels strongly about.  We couldn’t be happier that Leo is continuing his journey with Astroscale, and we’re excited to see what’s to come for him. 🎓 Tomorrow’s missions start with today’s graduates.

Delivering a mission takes a wide range of space engineering solutions and expertise. “We work integrally with Astroscale to ensure their mission control is effective, robust, and resilient.” Louise Rees from Starion on working with Astroscale.

Missions don’t just rely on hardware - they rely on coordination across organisations.  “This allows [Astroscale] to grow, to thrive and to remain in this location and to get the support they need to continue to develop in the UK.”  Debbi Sonko from the Satellite Applications Catapult is part of the ELSA-M testing team. Catapult is a key partner for the EMSA-M mission.

Before a spacecraft can inspect, approach, or remove debris, it needs systems that help it understand and control its position in orbit. “It’s critical we clean space up.” Steve Bury from NewSpace Systems talks to us about his company’s collaborations with Astroscale.

“Interesting. Intensive. Challenging. Transformative” Meet Febin 👋 A Systems Engineer on our GNC team at Astroscale in the UK, Febin is one of our 2023 Graduates. Above are the key words she would use to summarise her experience as part of the programme.  We’re excited to share more about Febin’s journey with us, the different departments she got to experience and why she chose to join Astroscale. 🎓 Tomorrow’s missions start with today’s graduates. Hear Febin’s story ⬇️

Testing is where assumptions meet reality. “We've got finite resources on the ground and finite space in orbit above us, so keeping mindful of both is important.” Charly Knight from RAL Space speaks about the importance of the test stage of any mission. https://lnkd.in/dHYYDGwb

Missions depend on us working closely with suppliers before, during, and after launch. “We supply flight dynamics systems for Astroscale which allows them to control and manoeuvre their satellites.” Andrés Arrieta Hernández, GMV, on their role supporting Astroscale.

Design and engineering decisions shape everything that follows. “As a manufacturing partner, it’s rewarding to know that the components we produce are contributing to such a meaningful mission.” Mark Humphrey from CADMATIC ENGINEERING SERVICES LIMITED on working with Astroscale.