Japan’s space debris company, Astroscale, has announced a collaboration with two Bengaluru-based firms, Digantara and Bellatrix Aerospace, to work together on technology and services. This partnership aims to develop solutions for removing orbital debris. Eddie Kato, President of Astroscale’s Japan unit, said they hope to launch orbital services for Indian clients within one to two years. It would mark Astroscale’s first operations in the Asia-Pacific region outside of Japan.
“India has been on our top list of possible markets” with established space capabilities, where Astroscale’s on-orbit servicing technology would meet demand, Kato told Reuters. Astroscale is also interested in South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia and Australia, he added.
“India’s space policy used to be rather protectionist, but we’ve seen very rapid moves, to bolster ties with the United States and liberalise the market for commercial actors – even fostering them,” Kato said.
The agreement did not contain any monetary terms.
India has opened the country’s space sector beyond the state-owned Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to private players and created a 10-billion-rupee ($116 million) fund to support startups.
At home, Astroscale is working with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to demonstrate a commercial debris removal mission in 2027. It has also won orders from the U.S. Space Force and space agencies of Britain and France, which include experimental services to extend a satellite’s lifespan.
As the number of orbiting satellites increases, potential collisions could create more than $500 million in risk over the next five years, according to an industry estimate.
Digantara provides space situational awareness services to monitor orbital objects and has contracts with multiple U.S. defence agencies. Bellatrix Aerospace manufactures satellite propulsion systems.
With the partners, Astroscale would first provide on-orbit services for Indian government clients, Kato said.
The partnership would “help unlock new market opportunities across both established and emerging space economies,” Digantara’s Vice President Shreyas Mirji said in a statement.
It “marks a significant step for us as we venture into the Japanese market,” said Bellatrix chief executive Rohan M Ganapathy.
The move was the latest of budding tie-ups between Japanese and Indian space companies, such as between moon explorer ispace 9348.T and rocket maker Skyroot, as well as SKY Perfect JSAT-affiliated 9412.T Orbital Lasers and robotics firm InspeCity.
The Indian and Japanese governments will hold their third round of “space dialogue” policy talks in Tokyo in coming days, officials say.
Team BharatShakti (With inputs from Reuters)
