In a groundbreaking achievement, Japan has taken the world’s first close-up photo of an individual piece of space debris from orbit, marking a significant milestone in orbital debris cleanup efforts.
A private Japanese company orchestrated this feat by positioning another satellite adjacent to the space debris, capturing a stunning orbital photo op. This endeavor is just the beginning of a mission aimed at capturing and eliminating potentially hazardous space junk that is cluttering our skies.
Despite the common perception of space as an expansive emptiness, since the launch of the first satellite in 1957, Earth’s orbit has become increasingly congested. Accumulating over the past several decades, human-made space debris, including discarded rocket stages, retired satellites, residual fuel, and minuscule paint particles, has transformed the space surrounding our planet into a cluttered zone. Now, the space industry is mobilizing efforts to address this issue.
Currently, over 9,900 tons (9,000 metric tons) of space junk orbit Earth, posing a significant hazard to newly launched satellites and spacecraft. Even the smallest debris fragment carries enough momentum to puncture a spacecraft, posing risks to both equipment and personnel on the ground. Moreover, as debris remains in orbit, the likelihood of collisions increases. Defunct satellites or rocket components colliding can fragment into smaller pieces, compounding the issue and making tracking and mitigation more challenging.
Recognizing the urgent need to address this floating hazard, space agencies worldwide are actively pursuing cleanup initiatives. A recent endeavor by a private Japanese company saw a spacecraft successfully identify, approach, and photograph a sizable piece of orbital debris—the upper stage of a Japanese H-IIA rocket—circling Earth since 2009. This successful demonstration showcased the craft’s capability to maneuver close to space junk without collision, laying the groundwork for future removal missions.
This achievement has earned the company a partnership with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration initiative. Plans are underway for the mission’s second phase, aiming to physically remove debris using a robotic arm to guide it into a fiery reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
However, Japan is not alone in its efforts. The European Space Agency (ESA) is gearing up for its own space-debris removal mission, ClearSpace-1, scheduled for launch in 2025. Meanwhile, NASA is collaborating with six private U.S. space companies to develop its debris-removal program. Additionally, Astroscale’s U.K. branch is preparing to launch its cleanup mission in the coming year.
As space agencies and private entities unite to address the growing challenge of space debris, these endeavors mark crucial steps toward preserving the safety and sustainability of space exploration.
