Startup Builds Vehicle With Soviets Tech To Collect Space Garbage

Every year, there are so many satellites launched into space that it’s now very crowded. However, what happens to the old inactive satellites? How do we make sure they won’t become dangerous space garbage?

With that in mind, Kurs Orbital is a company pledging to take care of the matter. Its website says:

“Kurs Orbital expands human activities beyond Earth by providing spacecraft on-orbit servicing.”

“Our fleet of reusable servicers, located in different orbits, enables satellite’s life extension and space debris removal missions, securing safe and sustainable orbits for generations to come.”

Leading the company is the former head of the Ukrainian space agency, Volodymyr Usov, who plans to launch a demonstration vehicle in 2023. Market research company NSR estimated that in-orbit servicing like de-orbiting, orbit relocation, component replacement, refueling, and component repair, will become a $3 billion business in the next 10 years.

According to Usov, his company will use technology developed by the Soviets in the 80s. In fact, the company has the right to the original Kurs rendezvous system.

However, instead of depending on this system, the company is working on new rendezvous acquisition modules using machine vision, radar, as well as robotics that enable fully automatic docking even with uncooperative objects.

This will help save billions of dollars for the company. Currently, the firm is raising $6.5 million in the first investment round to launch its demonstration vehicle.

>>> Scientists Want To Send 6.7 Million Samples, Including Sperm, To The Moon