Common Earth orbits are becoming increasingly congested due to more and more space exploration missions as more space agencies deploy satellite constellations than ever before. Orbital debris are released from spacecraft or rocket bodies in common earth orbits, which poses a risk to spacecraft and satellites in Earth orbit and has a negative impact on space infrastructure and Earth. To address this issue, Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and Bradford ECAPS came together and have signed an MoU to provide orbital debris removal services.
ECAPS, owned by Bradford Space (a company in the AIAC Group), is very excited to team up with Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) for this space cleaning mission. Starting from 2024, Bradford Space / ECAPS and SSC will provide orbital debris removal services as part of their commercial services. Bradford Space will launch a satellite bus, named ‘Square Rocket’, with significant delta-V capability into the earth orbit from the Esrange Space Center. This satellite bus will deorbit the orbital debris and junk to clear common earth orbits for spacecraft and satellites.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by SSC and Bradford Space’s ECAPS at the 2021 International Aeronautical Congress in Dubai. To accomplish this mission and provide orbital debris removal services, a new spaceport facility - Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden - is currently under construction and will be operational from 2022.
Talking about the MoU agreement for sustainable use of space, L. M. Levie, Chairman of American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) stated,
“This has been an astonishing journey. The agreement with SSC further demonstrates the tireless dedication and brilliance of the Bradford team combined with the superiority of our technology.”
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) has acquired Bradford Space in 2016 and played a significant role in what the current Bradford Space began to take form. AIAC is a privately-held industrial and investment group that seeks to acquire under-performing companies and invest in manufacturing and distribution operations to build enduring and flourishing businesses. Under AIAC, Bradford Space started acquiring companies to form a ‘Bradford Workspaces’ to rebrand and reimagine the commercial space industry. Talking about the MoU with SSC, Patrick van Put, Managing Director for Bradford Space European operations said,
“Bradford Space / ECAPS is very excited to team up with SSC for this venture, which is based on exceptional complementary capabilities from both Swedish entities”
Earlier this year, Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) launched a new program to create a safer and more sustainable space environment for space exploration companies. As part of Space Situational Awareness (SSA), the program will consist of initiatives such as detection, tracking, identification, and addressing man-made space objects space junks in common earth orbits through the analysis of SSA data. The MoU between SSC and Bradford ECAPS for orbital debris removal will showcase Sweden as a leader in orbital debris mitigation for sustainable use of space.
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