NorthStar Earth & Space Europe Joins European Consortium to Advance Space Debris Removal Technology
NorthStar Earth & Space S.à r.l. (“NorthStar”), a leader in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and space sustainability solutions, is pleased to announce its participation in the ALBATOR project, a European Commission–funded initiative coordinated by OSMOS X (France). The project unites leading European technology partners and universities to develop a novel contactless approach for active space debris removal using Ion Beam Shepherd (IBS) technology.
Funded through the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), ALBATOR will design and test an advanced plasma-based ion beam system capable of transferring momentum to orbital debris without physical contact. By avoiding the risks inherent in capture or docking, the project aims to provide a safer and more versatile solution to one of the greatest challenges facing space sustainability: the proliferation of debris in Earth’s orbit.
NorthStar will contribute its expertise in astrodynamics and SSA to support Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), enabling safe manoeuvres planning and execution for debris de-orbiting scenarios. These capabilities will complement the project’s experimental and modelling efforts, ensuring that the technology can be effectively integrated into future operational missions.
“Space debris represents a growing threat to the safety and sustainability of global space operations,” said Stewart Bain, Founder & CEO of NorthStar Earth & Space. “ALBATOR demonstrates the power of European collaboration to develop breakthrough technologies, and NorthStar is proud to contribute our SSA expertise to ensure these solutions can be deployed safely and effectively.”
The ALBATOR consortium includes:
OSMOS X (France) – Coordinator and plasma propulsion technology developer
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain) – Advanced modelling on plasma discharge and plume diffusion
Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen (Germany) – plasma beam diagnostics and performance testing
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (Germany) – plasma/materials interaction expertise
NorthStar Earth & Space Europe S.à r.l. (Luxembourg) – SSA and astrodynamics for RPO support
With orbital debris increasingly endangering satellites and critical space-based services for communications, navigation, Earth monitoring, and defence, the ALBATOR project represents a vital step in developing innovative remediation strategies. By combining plasma physics research, system development, and advanced SSA tools, the consortium is contributing to a safer and more sustainable future in space.