Debris Removal Companies

Altius Space Machines

Broomfield, United States commercial

Altius Space Machines, founded in 2010 and based in Broomfield, Colorado, is a company focused on the emerging in-space services market. The company specializes in the development of technologies for satellite capture and manipulation in orbit. Specifically, Altius designs and builds mechanisms intended to enable on-orbit servicing, repair, and potentially, relocation or de-orbiting of existing spacecraft. While detailed information regarding specific technologies is limited in publicly available sources, Altius’ core competency lies in robotic capture systems. These systems are critical for enabling complex in-space operations that extend the lifespan and utility of satellites, and address the growing need for sustainable space operations and orbital debris mitigation. Currently, publicly available information does not detail specific missions, achievements, or customer lists for Altius Space Machines. However, the company’s focus on satellite capture positions it within a rapidly growing sector driven by both government and commercial demand for on-orbit servicing, life extension, and active debris removal. Altius Space Machines’ unique value proposition centers on providing the essential robotic “hands” needed to execute a variety of in-space servicing missions. As the demand for extending the life of valuable satellite assets and addressing the challenges of space debris increases, Altius is positioned to become a key enabler of a more sustainable and economically viable space ecosystem.

Astroscale U.S.

Denver, Colorado, United States commercial

Astroscale U.S. is the U.S. subsidiary of Japan-headquartered Astroscale Holdings, established in 2020 and based in Denver, Colorado. The unit serves as Astroscale's primary vehicle for pursuing U.S. government and defense contracts in on-orbit servicing, active debris removal, and space sustainability — areas where export-control and national-security considerations often require a U.S.-domiciled supplier. Astroscale U.S. is the prime contractor for the U.S. Space Force's APS-R (Astroscale Prototype Servicer for Refueling) mission under the SSC Space Mobility and Logistics program, a Tetra-class spacecraft intended to demonstrate refueling of Space Force client vehicles in geosynchronous orbit. The company is also pursuing rendezvous, proximity operations, and servicing (RPO) work for the Defense Innovation Unit and commercial GEO operators. Astroscale's parent company went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2024 under ticker 186A, providing public-market capital to support U.S. contract execution. Astroscale U.S. complements parent operations in Japan (ELSA-d debris demonstration), the UK (COSMIC debris removal), and Israel.

Aurora Propulsion Technologies is a Finnish company developing water-based electric propulsion systems and passive deorbiting devices for small satellites. Founded in 2018 and based in Espoo, Finland, the company's signature products include the Aurora Resistojet — a water-propellant resistojet thruster using steam for attitude control and orbit maintenance — and the Aurora Plasma Brake, a passive electrodynamic tether device that uses the interaction with Earth's ionosphere to deorbit satellites without propellant. The plasma brake is particularly notable as it enables CubeSats to comply with emerging regulations requiring deorbit within 5 years of mission end without the weight penalty of a conventional propulsion system. Aurora has flown its propulsion hardware on its own AuroraSat demonstration missions and supplies components to European satellite manufacturers.

Astroscale Israel

Tel Aviv, Israel commercial

Astroscale Israel, founded in 2019 and based in Tel Aviv, is a subsidiary of Astroscale Inc., focused on the development and provision of on-orbit services for the space industry. The company delivers solutions in three core areas: debris removal, life extension, and inspection, serving civil, defense, and commercial sectors. Astroscale is pioneering technologies for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), demonstrated by the successful ADRAS-J mission – the world’s first attempt to safely approach and characterize existing space debris. Astroscale’s capabilities extend to advanced servicing to prolong satellite lifespan and safe deorbiting solutions aimed at mitigating the growing problem of space debris and ensuring orbital sustainability. The company has established partnerships with a diverse range of customers including JAXA, ESA, Eutelsat, OneWeb, the UK Space Agency, the United States Space Force, and CNES. Recent news highlights a $25 million Series C funding round and ongoing advancements in space monitoring capabilities. Astroscale positions itself as a leader in responsible space operations, building infrastructure to support a more sustainable, connected, and secure space environment for future generations.

BULL is a Japanese startup developing HORN, a low-cost post-mission disposal device that is fitted to a spacecraft or launch vehicle stage before flight and deployed once its mission ends. A thin resin membrane unfurls like a sail from an extended boom, catching the residual atmospheric drag found at roughly 600 to 800 kilometres altitude to decelerate the object so it loses altitude and re-enters, rather than lingering in orbit for decades. The approach targets debris prevention rather than debris removal: because the hardware launches with the spacecraft, it avoids the cost and complexity of a separate rendezvous mission. BULL also markets on-orbit services built on the same technology. BULL signed a memorandum of understanding with Arianespace in 2024 to study fitting HORN to the Ariane 6 dual launch system, with candidate launch slots identified from 2027, and has run co-creation activities with JAXA on a device for the Epsilon S launch vehicle upper stage. In April 2026 it signed a basic agreement with Fujitsu to develop a high-precision Japanese space situational awareness service.

E-Space

Sarasota, United States commercial

E-Space is an American commercial communications satellite company founded in 2021 by Greg Wyler, who previously founded O3b Networks (sold to SES) and OneWeb. E-Space aims to build a next-generation LEO constellation using satellites with integrated debris mitigation — each spacecraft is designed to deorbit itself reliably at end of life, addressing regulators' and operators' concerns about the accumulating debris problem in LEO. The constellation plan targets IoT, broadband, and commercial services. E-Space is notable for Wyler's track record in winning regulatory approvals and financing for large LEO constellations, though the company has maintained relatively low public profile compared to Starlink and OneWeb as it develops its system.

Kurs Orbital

Moscow, Italy commercial

Kurs Orbital, founded in 2020 and based in Moscow, Russia, is a space technology company focused on the development of infrastructure for on-orbit servicing, satellite life extension, and space debris mitigation. The company specializes in rendezvous and docking systems, positioning itself as a foundational element for a scalable space industry. Kurs Orbital is building an on-orbit servicing platform intended to support a wide range of future commercial activities in space. A key differentiator for Kurs Orbital is its leveraging of established Russian technology. The company’s systems are directly based on the “Kurs” rendezvous and docking system originally developed and successfully deployed on the Mir space station in 1985. This heritage provides a proven foundation for reliability and performance in complex orbital operations. Currently, Kurs Orbital concentrates on technologies related to satellite servicing and active debris removal, addressing a growing need for sustainability in Earth orbit. While specific missions or customers are not publicly detailed, the company’s stated goal is to provide the essential infrastructure enabling a robust and expanding commercial presence in space. Kurs Orbital aims to establish itself as a critical enabler for the future of in-space servicing, offering solutions that extend the lifespan of existing satellites and actively address the increasing challenge of orbital debris. This positions the company within a rapidly growing market segment focused on space sustainability and the circular economy in space.

Astroscale

Tokyo, Japan commercial

Astroscale is a pioneering on-orbit servicing company developing satellite life extension, space situational awareness, and active debris removal solutions. Founded in 2013 by Mitsunobu Okada in Singapore and now headquartered in Tokyo, Astroscale is addressing the growing challenge of space sustainability through innovative spacecraft and operations. The ADRAS-J mission achieved historic milestones in 2024 as the world's first attempt to safely approach and characterize existing large debris through Rendezvous and Proximity Operations. Launched by Rocket Lab in February 2024, ADRAS-J targeted a defunct Japanese upper stage rocket body approximately 11 meters long and 3 tons in mass, orbiting since 2009. In December 2024, ADRAS-J achieved a historic 15-meter approach to the debris, the closest approach ever achieved by a commercial company to space debris through RPO. The spacecraft completed all observations required by JAXA, including multiple fly-around operations confirming the debris condition and providing critical data for future removal missions. ADRAS-J was selected by JAXA for Phase I of its Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration Project. Astroscale Japan was also selected for Phase II, which will involve capturing and deorbiting the upper stage with the ADRAS-J2 spacecraft. Development is underway utilizing ADRAS-J heritage and collected data. Astroscale is a publicly traded company advancing commercial space sustainability services to ensure the long-term usability of orbital environments for future generations.

ClearSpace

Ecublens, Switzerland commercial

ClearSpace SA is a Swiss space debris removal startup founded as a spin-off from EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne) by experienced space debris researchers. In 2019, ClearSpace won ESA's ADRIOS project tender and in November 2020 signed an 86 million euro contract for the ClearSpace-1 mission, the world's first mission to remove debris from orbit. Originally targeting the VESPA payload adapter from a 2013 Vega launch, the mission switched targets in April 2024 to ESA's 95 kg PROBA-1 satellite launched in 2001. ClearSpace-1 will launch on Vega C in 2029, initially entering a 500 km commissioning orbit before raising to target altitude for rendezvous and capture using a quartet of robotic arms. The mission is a cornerstone of ESA's Space Safety Programme and Zero Debris Approach, aiming to limit debris production by 2030.