When ejected parts from rockets, non-functioning satellites and metallic fragments circle the earth, who removes them?
With an increasing number of man-made objects in orbit, one debris removal company is hoping to increase its global presence by opening an office in Denver.
Astroscale Holdings, a company developing a space debris removal service, announced last week that it would open a new office in Denver, its first in the United States. Astroscale currently has offices in Singapore, Japan and the United Kingdom.
“Astroscale U.S. will be an active part of Colorado’s vibrant space economy.”
In addition to opening the new office, Astroscale announced that it has raised an additional $30 million in an extension of its Series D round. The funding extension brings the total Series D amount to $80 million and total capital raised to $132 million.
“This is an exciting time for Astroscale and marks a significant milestone for the company, its employees and future customers who will all benefit from the opportunities this expansion presents,” Nobu Okada, Founder and CEO, said in a release. “The United States has been active in addressing issues related to space traffic management and the mitigation of orbital debris. An office in the United States will allow us to work closely with policy makers and business leaders to devise a sustainable solution for this global issue.”
Astroscale's U.S. branch will focus on business development and technology growth and will be led by Ron Lopez. Lopez joins the company with over 25 years of experience in the aerospace sector, including at the United States Air Force and The Boeing Company.
Most recently, Lopez led the Defense & Space Asia Pacific sales team at Honeywell Aerospace, helping the company achieve significant sales growth and expansion into new markets.
“Astroscale U.S. will be an active part of Colorado’s vibrant space economy,” Lopez said in a statement. “We are eager to work within this diverse and growing ecosystem to fuel Astroscale’s global growth and contribute to the success of the region.”
According to the Denver Post, Astroscale received approval for up to $1 million in job growth incentive tax credit awards and pledged to bring 54 jobs at an average wage of $108,833 in return.
Astroscale, which was founded in 2013, is currently developing the End-of-Life Service (ELSA), a pair of spacecrafts that are able to find and dock debris in orbit. According to Astroscale's website, the ELSA is scheduled to launch in 2020.
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