Wind River VxWorks® Powers Astroscale’s Groundbreaking ELSA-M Space Debris Removal Mission
ALAMEDA, Calif. – Wind River®, a global leader in software for mission-critical intelligent systems, today announced that its real-time operating system, VxWorks®, is at the heart of Astroscale’s latest space sustainability initiative. The ELSA-M Servicer spacecraft, designed to capture and deorbit defunct satellites, relies on VxWorks in its On-Board Computer (OBC) for high-precision guidance and control.
Astroscale is pioneering solutions to combat the escalating threat posed by space debris. Its ELSA-M (End-of-Life Services by Astroscale – Multiple) mission aims to safely capture and retire multiple non-functional satellites within a single flight—an essential step toward a more sustainable orbital environment.
“Astroscale is tackling the critical challenge of space debris, and we’re proud to support their mission,” said Avijit Sinha, Chief Product Officer at Wind River. “Our cutting-edge technology underpins the world’s most demanding aerospace systems. VxWorks continues to be a trusted platform for precision, reliability, and performance in space.”
“ELSA-M addresses the growing pressure on satellite operators to responsibly manage end-of-life disposal,” added Stephen Wokes, Director of Engineering at Astroscale Ltd. “Given the complexity of autonomous rendezvous and capture operations, it is vital to work with proven, dependable technology. VxWorks delivers the real-time performance required for our robotics and vision processing systems.”
The VxWorks-powered OBC plays a central role in orchestrating rendezvous maneuvers and robotic operations. Astroscale’s onboard software applications—running on VxWorks—handle advanced computer vision and control tasks essential to tracking, approaching, and capturing retired satellites.
A landmark in-orbit demonstration (IOD) is scheduled for 2025, marking the first commercial active debris removal (ADR) mission to complete a full capture and deorbit sequence with a full-scale client satellite. This mission is part of Astroscale’s collaboration with OneWeb and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Proven Software for Space Innovation #
For more than 30 years, Wind River’s software has powered critical systems in space, supporting some of the most ambitious missions in history. VxWorks offers unmatched deterministic performance and a robust, scalable architecture built for safety, security, and reliability—making it the platform of choice for mission-critical aerospace applications.
About Wind River #
Wind River is a global leader in software for mission-critical intelligent systems. For over four decades, Wind River has been at the forefront of innovation, powering billions of devices across industries such as aerospace, automotive, defense, industrial, medical, and telecommunications. The company delivers a comprehensive portfolio supported by global professional services, technical support, and a broad partner ecosystem. Learn more at www.windriver.com.
About Astroscale #
Astroscale is the first private company fully dedicated to on-orbit servicing across all orbital regimes. Founded in 2013, it is leading efforts to secure sustainable space operations for future generations. Astroscale is advancing technologies for life extension, in-space situational awareness, active debris removal, and end-of-life disposal. Headquartered in Japan, the company has subsidiaries in the UK, US, and Israel. Visit www.astroscale.com for more information.
About ELSA-M #
ELSA-M is the follow-up to Astroscale’s ELSA-d demonstration mission. It aims to prove the commercial viability of removing multiple defunct satellites using in-orbit rendezvous and magnetic capture. Developed and operated from Astroscale’s Zeus facility at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in the UK, ELSA-M is scheduled to launch in 2025. The mission is backed by the UK Space Agency, ESA, and OneWeb under the Sunrise Programme, a public-private partnership supporting innovative space sustainability initiatives.