Space Debris Energy Recovery Satellite DebrisPower Completes First Prototype Deployment: Extracting Usable Energy from Space Junk

Japan's JAXA announced on September 2 that its DebrisPower energy recovery satellite prototype completed its first on-orbit test. The approximately 200-kilogram satellite successfully captured solar panel debris from a retired weather satellite and conducted functional testing and energy recovery in space.

The DebrisPower system is equipped with a robotic arm and autonomous navigation system capable of approaching, capturing, and processing space debris. For debris containing solar panels, DebrisPower deploys them and connects them to its own power system for energy recovery. For metal debris, the system uses electromagnetic induction heating to melt it into standardized ingots stored in its cargo bay for later recycling.

JAXA's space debris project lead said: "Currently there are over 36,000 trackable pieces of space debris in low Earth orbit, with total mass exceeding 9,000 tons. This debris poses threats to orbiting spacecraft but is also an overlooked resource. DebrisPower proves that the energy value of space debris can be practically utilized."

In the first test, solar panels recovered from the retired weather satellite generated approximately 800 watts of power, sufficient to maintain the prototype satellite's own operational needs. JAXA plans to launch a second prototype in 2030, targeting larger debris capture and commercial energy supply.