Isar Aerospace has secured a launch agreement with Astroscale UK for the ‘ELSA-M’ In-Orbit Demonstration mission, to be launched on the Spectrum vehicle from Andøya Space. The mission represents Isar Aerospace’s first involvement in active debris removal (ADR) and underscores strong global demand for flexible European launch capabilities.
ELSA-M aims to be the world’s first commercial end-of-life service for prepared satellites. The mission will use a 520kg servicer spacecraft to capture and remove an end-of-life Eutelsat OneWeb satellite, advancing Astroscale’s roadmap toward routine in-orbit servicing and a circular economy in space. The effort is majority self-funded and supported by the UK Space Agency through ESA’s ARTES programme.
“We are proud to contribute to space sustainability by supporting Astroscale’s pioneering activities,” said Stella Guillen, CCO of Isar Aerospace, noting the company’s ability to meet unique orbital rendezvous requirements.
Astroscale UK’s Managing Director, Nick Shave, emphasized the importance of flight-proven capabilities: “Through missions such as ELSA-d and ADRAS-J, we have demonstrated safe, controlled approaches. With Isar Aerospace providing launch flexibility and orbital precision, we are ready to deliver an ADR service that enables a sustainable space environment.”
The all-in-house Spectrum launcher enables Isar Aerospace to scale manufacturing amid surging global demand. The partnership further strengthens Europe’s space capabilities while supporting Astroscale’s mission to inspect, service, and remove satellites to secure long-term orbital sustainability.
