Japan’s Astroscale, India’s NSIL Space Debris Inspection Mission.
Japan’s Astroscale, India’s NSIL Join Forces for Space Debris Inspection Mission: Tokyo, Japan – September 11, 2025. In a major step toward enhancing global space sustainability efforts, Astroscale Japan Inc., a leading player in satellite servicing and orbital debris management, has signed a launch agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) for its upcoming in-orbit satellite debris inspection mission, ISSA-J1. The mission is scheduled for launch in spring 2027 aboard India’s trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
The agreement marks the first-ever dedicated PSLV launch procured by a Japanese entity, reflecting growing collaboration between Japan and India in the space sector.
The ISSA-J1 (In-situ Space Situational Awareness-Japan 1) mission is being developed under Japan’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, an initiative funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to support innovative research and development by startups.
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The spacecraft will carry out advanced inspection and characterization of two large pieces of orbital debris, furthering Astroscale’s mission of promoting long-term sustainability in Earth’s orbit. Final design stages are currently underway, with manufacturing and operational planning already in progress. Assembly and testing are set to begin in the coming months.
“We selected NSIL after thorough evaluations of more than ten launch service providers over the past year, considering technical capabilities, track record, cost, and other factors,” said Eddie Kato, President & Managing Director of Astroscale Japan. “The PSLV’s strong performance in delivering satellites to low Earth orbit—having completed approximately 60 successful launches—made it the ideal choice.”
NSIL, a Central Public Sector Enterprise under India’s Department of Space and the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will manage the mission’s launch.
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ISRO’s PSLV-C59 Launch.
Beyond this launch agreement, Astroscale Japan is deepening its engagement with the Indian space ecosystem. The company has already signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Indian startups Bellatrix Aerospace and Digantara to jointly explore business opportunities, supported by its local representative MEMCO Associates.
“This agreement is not only a critical milestone for the ISSA-J1 mission success, but also a strategic step in advancing our business enterprise in the Indian market,” Kato noted. He highlighted the recent India-Japan Economic Forum, attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Noriyuki Ishiba, as a key moment to showcase these bilateral initiatives.
The mission underscores the increasing global urgency to address the growing issue of space debris, and positions Astroscale—and its international partners—as frontrunners in crafting practical solutions for safer, more sustainable use of outer space.
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