Tue Dec 17 07:35:42 UTC 2024: ## Indo-Japanese Space Startups Join Forces to Tackle Orbital Debris
**TOKYO, December 17, 2024** – Orbital Lasers, a Japanese space startup, and InspeCity, an Indian robotics firm, announced a joint venture today to develop a laser-based system for removing space debris from orbit. The collaboration marks the latest in a series of burgeoning partnerships between Indian and Japanese space entities.
The innovative technology utilizes lasers to vaporize small portions of space junk, altering its rotation and making it easier for servicing spacecraft to capture and de-orbit it. Orbital Lasers plans to demonstrate this system in space by 2027 and subsequently offer it to space operators. The technology could potentially be integrated into InspeCity’s satellites, pending regulatory approvals in both countries.
This initiative comes amidst growing concerns about orbital congestion. A recent United Nations panel highlighted the urgent need for effective debris management due to the rapid increase in satellites and space junk. The project represents a significant step towards addressing this challenge.
Both companies have secured significant funding; InspeCity raised $1.5 million last year, while Orbital Lasers has raised $5.8 million since its inception. The collaboration is further evidence of the strengthening ties between India and Japan in the space sector, building on existing joint projects like the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission and other commercial ventures involving data sharing and technological collaboration.
Experts believe that the partnership highlights the potential for further collaborations between the two nations in areas such as satellite data solutions for disaster management and agriculture, as well as manufacturing. The “Make in India” initiative is expected to play a crucial role in shaping these future collaborations.
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