Astroscale Limited has announced the successful completion of a study aimed at developing capabilities to refurbish and upgrade satellites for commercial use.
As part of the European Space Agency’s ‘Systems Studies for a Circular Economy in Space’, Astroscale is collaborating with BAE Systems to develop an In-orbit Refurbishment and Upgrading Service (IRUS) to advance the transition away from the current single-use culture in space. This initial systems study will inform the next steps towards future commercial services.
The IRUS project involves building on Astroscale’s existing technology to design a servicer satellite which can rendezvous with a BAE Systems client satellite. The client satellite will be created in a modular serviceable way, enabling the servicer to robotically upgrade its specific modules in space.
DHV Technology, a leading international manufacturer of bespoke solar array systems and spacecraft power subsystems, was also part of the project. The company added breadth to the study’s scope by investigating wider impacts and potential applications of refurbishment and upgrading on solar cell technologies.
It is expected that many thousands of satellites will be launched into low Earth orbit between 2030 and 2040. Such high numbers of satellites entering space highlights the necessity for a circular solution. Maximising the use of in-orbit assets by refurbishing and upgrading, rather than de-orbiting and replacing non-functional satellites is a critical step in the move towards a more sustainable space economy.
Astroscale UK led one of four competing consortiums that took part in ESA’s ‘Systems Studies for a Circular Economy in Space’ call, which focused on proposing innovative system concepts for a circular economy in space by 2050. Following the final reviews of the projects, IRUS was the winning consortium awarded an upcoming session at ESA’s state-of-the-art Concurrent Design Facility (CDF). Astroscale UK, the service provider, and BAE Systems, the client, will be working with ESA experts to further develop the mission concept and gather support for it at the next ESA ministerial in November.
“As satellite launches become more numerous and frequent, achieving a sustainable space industry is essential”, said Nick Shave, Managing Director of Astroscale UK. “Via a future satellite upgrading service, customers can either extend the life of their satellites by replacing older parts, or furnish them with enhanced capabilities. Satellites provide vital services to us every day. We need to ensure they remain operational longer to create a sustainable space economy. We’re developing novel technology and maturing a new service that is set to enable the safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations. We are very pleased to be working with commercial customers like BAE Systems to develop and demonstrate this new service.”
“We’re committed to ensuring space is sustainable both now and in the future,” said Doug Liddle, Director, Space of BAE Systems’ Digital Intelligence business. “This involves finding new ways to maximise the utility of existing satellites by improving functionality and flexibility, and thereby reducing space debris and the number of launches required. Engaging with the space community and working together with purpose to drive the development of cutting-edge solutions is crucial. Our collaboration with Astroscale is a key example of this, as we explore designing satellites that can be upgraded by its innovative technology in-orbit. Ultimately, creating a circular space economy is a team effort – and we’re incredibly proud to play our part.”
This study has provided a long-term technical roadmap to making in-orbit refurbishment and upgrading services the norm in the space industry by 2040, with a mid-term objective being an IRUS In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission by 2030.
IRUS will complement Astroscale’s End-of-Life service, which was successfully demonstrated in 2021 with its ELSA-d spacecraft and is set for an IOD mission in 2026. This will see the company’s ELSA-M servicer deorbit a Eutelsat OneWeb satellite that has reached End-of-Life.