While the ELSa-D docking test mission is not going to plan in orbit due to thruster issues, its owner/developer Astroscale did have something to smile about. It has received US$16 milion (€15 million) in funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) to demonstrate an actual spacecraft removal mission, probably involving a OneWeb satellite, using its ELSa-M servicing spacecraft. According to Space News, Astroscale Ltd (the UK subsidiary of the Japanese firm) received the money from OneWeb via the UK Space Agency and ESA public-private Sunrise programme. The mission is likely to take place in 2024.
