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- November 3rd, 2022 Posted in News

Astroscale was selected as the winner by a panel of expert judges consisting of representatives from the European Commission, ESA and leading space and satellite trade associations, with all conference participants at The European Space Forum also having an audience vote.

The Sustainability in Space Award celebrates projects and organisations in particular from across Europe that demonstrate innovative technology that contributes to space sustainability. The award seeks to recognise organisations boosting the sustainability of the space ecosystem by tackling challenges such as hazardous space debris and orbital congestion.

This award demonstrates confidence in Astroscale’s End-of-Life Service satellite technology, which was first demonstrated by the currently operating ELSA-d demonstration mission. As the next step, the company is developing the ELSA-M multi-client removal commercial mission and service, designed to remove defunct satellites from low Earth orbit under a public-private partnership with ESA. ELSA-M has a supply chain from across Europe with over 70 percent of the spacecraft sourced from ESA Member States.

Astroscale was also recognised for its satellite Docking Plate, a simple, low-cost technology solution that can be integrated onto satellites before they launch to prepare them for future servicing, much like a car tow-bar for satellites. The Docking Plate is universal and can be captured using a magnetic interface or robotic grappling mechanism when equipped satellites are ready to be captured, and de-orbited or serviced in the near future.

“We are delighted to have been selected for this prestigious award from the European Space Forum,” said Nick Shave, Managing Director of Astroscale Limited, the company’s UK and Europe subsidiary. “The award demonstrates Astroscale’s leadership in the space sustainability market. We are rapidly developing our satellite End-of-Life servicing and active debris removal technology for use by 2025 by both commercial and institutional markets. We will continue to collaborate closely with partners from across Europe and globally. Our mission is to make the space environment safe and sustainable for current and future generations.”

Astroscale has won several prestigious awards this year, including being named one of TIME’s top 100 most influential companies and one of Fast Company’s top 10 most innovative companies in 2022.