Astroscale, the space-focused global sustainability group, has expanded into France, announcing the opening of Astroscale France SAS (Astroscale France) along with a contract with the country’s national space agency Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales (CNES).

The latter, inked on June 20 at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, formalized a partnership between Astroscale France and CNES, which includes a funded study for debris removal of French space debris.

“This partnership with Astroscale aligns with our goals of ensuring long-term space sustainability and bolstering France’s leadership in the space sector,” said Philippe Baptiste, the president of CNES.

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“We are pleased to fund this study, and together will drive innovation, foster international cooperation and actively contribute to the preservation of our space environment.”

Nobu Okada, Astroscale’s founder and CEO, added: “Astroscale’s expansion into France and partnership with CNES mark a major step toward realizing a safe and sustainable space environment, and serve as a testament to France’s investment in space sustainability.”

“Combining Astroscale’s on-orbit servicing leadership with CNES’s esteemed space heritage strengthens France’s role as a global leader in sustainable space policy and innovative technology.”

Astroscale France will establish a larger facilities soon and name a managing director as well as other key employees. It is the latest addition to new facility openings and upgrades worldwide, including in the UK, the USA, Israel, and at the company’s global headquarters in Tokyo.

Globally, Astroscale has expanded its workforce to meet customer demand and now has around 450 team members.

Founded a decade ago, Astroscale is developing solutions across the spectrum of on-orbit servicing, including life extension, in-space situational awareness, active debris removal, to create sustainable space systems and mitigate the growing and hazardous build-up of debris in space.

In September last year, Astroscale opened its new Zeus satellite manufacturing and operations facilities on Oxfordshire’s Harwell science and innovation campus.

The new facility will enable the firm to manufacture satellite debris removal servicer satellites, while rapidly developing its commercial offering in future, contributing to the growing UK space industry. The sector has quadrupled in size since 2000.

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