UK project gives added precision to space debris removal

Fujitsu’s prototype – created in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Astroscale UK, and Glasgow University – will improve mission planning so that a single spacecraft can select which pieces of space debris to remove in one mission, and at a much faster rate than is currently possible.

By deciding which debris is collected and when, Fujitsu’s quantum-inspired Digital Annealer is claimed to optimise the mission plan to determine the minimum-fuel and minimum-time required to bring inoperable spacecrafts or satellites safely back to the disposal orbit. Finding the optimal route to collect the space debris is expected to save time and cost during the mission planning phase, which will improve the commercial viability of removing space debris.

Astroscale launches space debris removal mission

UK announces £1m funding tackle space debris 

In a statement, Ellen Devereux, Digital Annealer consultant at Fujitsu UK & Ireland, said: “With the UK Space Agency’s backing, along with Astroscale UK, AWS and Glasgow University, we’ve designed a solution to optimise the mission planning of a servicing craft before it is sent into space – meaning organisations like Astroscale UK can pick up more debris, more quickly than ever before.”