ADRAS-J - Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan, a JAXA-contracted mission launched in 2024. It demonstrated rendezvous and proximity operations with a spent rocket upper stage, capturing close-range imagery for planning future debris removal.
ClearSpace-1 - ESA-commissioned mission to remove a piece of space debris from orbit, planned as the first active debris removal mission. A capture spacecraft will use robotic arms to grasp a derelict Vespa upper stage and deorbit it.
Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) - Northrop Grumman’s satellite life-extension spacecraft. MEV-1 docked with Intelsat 901 in 2020, providing propulsion and attitude control to extend the aging satellite’s operational lifetime.
Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) - Northrop Grumman’s next-generation servicing spacecraft designed to perform hands-on satellite maintenance in GEO. Unlike MEV’s whole-vehicle docking approach, MRV uses robotic arms to inspect, refuel, relocate, and repair client satellites.
RSGS - Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites, a DARPA program to develop a robotic servicing vehicle for GEO satellites. It utilizes dexterous robotic arms to inspect, reposition, and repair satellites.