Astroscale France, a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc., has formed a strategic partnership with Exotrail to develop controlled deorbiting capabilities for satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), the companies said on Thursday.
The partnership aims to strengthen European end-of-life satellite management as congestion in LEO increases due to growing demand for telecommunications, Earth observation, navigation and defence-related services. The companies said they plan a first mission before 2030 to demonstrate an operational, controlled deorbiting capability for constellation satellites.
Astroscale France will contribute its capture system technologies and close-proximity operations expertise, including rendezvous and docking systems, mission preparation and operational know-how. Exotrail will provide its high-mobility satellite service vehicle, known as the spacevan™, leveraging its experience as a manufacturer, integrator and operator of multi-orbit missions.
An initial study phase has already been completed under a France 2030 contract with CNES, led by Exotrail in partnership with Astroscale France. The study focused on a deorbiting mission concept using Exotrail’s next-generation spacevan™ RPO/D vehicle combined with Astroscale’s rendezvous and capture technologies.
“By combining Exotrail’s mission leadership on vehicles and maneuvers, with Astroscale’s proven capture and close-proximity operations expertise, we are helping to position France and Europe at the forefront of in-orbit servicing,” said Philippe Blatt, managing director of Astroscale France.
Exotrail said the collaboration supports its longer-term strategy to expand services based on rendezvous, proximity and docking technologies, which are increasingly viewed as critical for both civilian and defence space infrastructures. “Controlled deorbiting and on-orbit rendezvous capabilities are now recognized as critical technological building blocks,” said Jean-Luc Maria, chief executive of Exotrail.
Beyond the initial demonstration mission, the companies said they are committing to a shared roadmap to develop repeatable European solutions that support sustainability, operational safety and technological sovereignty in line with French and European space priorities.
