/sci/ - Science & Math

https://spacenews.com/transastra-claims-nasa-contract-for-debris-capture-bag/

> “We originally developed this small capture bag prototype to demonstrate asteroid mining in low-Earth orbit with a synthetic asteroid,” Joel Sercel, TransAstra founder and CEO, told SpaceNews. “But we subsequently realized this is the greatest thing ever for orbital debris cleanup.”

> “If I have to fly out to an object, capture it, go to a short life orbit, then come back to my operational altitude, that requires a huge amount of propellant consumption,” Sercel said. “It’s better to capture multiple pieces of debris on a single mission.”

> A recent study completed by TransAstra and space infrastructure startup ThinkOrbital proposes transporting debris or defunct satellites to an on-orbit processing plant.

> The proposed ThinkPlatform would be about 37 meters in diameter with a volume of 4,000 cubic meters. ThinkOrbital plans to equip the ThinkPlatform with tools for inspecting, repairing and recycling objects.