ISSA-J1
A planned 2027 mission to fly up close to two retired Japanese satellites in different orbits and photograph them, without touching either.
Why it matters
Before anyone can grab or fix a dead satellite, they need to know its condition. Inspecting two targets on one trip shows a single spacecraft can serve several clients.
How the technology works
The roughly 650 kg spacecraft will approach the ALOS satellite step by step, image it without touching, then change orbits to repeat the process at ADEOS-II. It carries 10 chemical and 2 electric thrusters and is funded through Japan's Small Business Innovation Research program.