Robot model
ELSA-d
Servicer+client debris-removal demonstrator (175 kg servicer) testing autonomous rendezvous and magnetic capture.
- Manufacturer
- Astroscale
- Form factor
- space
- Maturity
- pilot
- Lifecycle
- superseded
- Deployments
- 1
- Website
- astroscale.com ↗
supersededSuperseded by a newer generation. The historical entry remains for reference; current coverage tracks the successor.
Deploy Watch
Track ELSA-d on Deploy.
We notify you when a verified state change lands on the record, not when the company issues a claim.
Key facts
Type
Specs
Role
Autonomy
Data & sources
Web sources
2
2 sources backing this record.View all →
Pricing
No verified price is on record for ELSA-d. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.
Deployments (1)
ELSA-d is a debris removal demonstration mission in low Earth orbit operated by Astroscale.
ELSA-d on the deployment map
Where ELSA-d is verified operating. Explore the deployment map by place and type.
Recent activity
Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.
- Verified media addedVerifiedJun 6, 2026
Astroscale ELSA-d concept of operations
- Record createdJun 5, 2026
Added to the verified registry
- Deployment verifiedVerifiedMar 22, 2021
at Low Earth Orbit (Tiangong Space Station)
Deployment-verified media (1)
Astroscale's concept-of-operations explainer (an animation) for its ELSA-d debris-removal demonstration, which used a magnetic capture system. In the actual 2021 demo, a thruster anomaly led to the planned final autonomous capture being aborted, a partial result, not a clean success.
From deployment: Low Earth Orbit (Tiangong Space Station)
Safety record
No incidents on record for ELSA-d.
Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.
Sources (2)
Common questions
- What is ELSA-d?
- Servicer+client debris-removal demonstrator (175 kg servicer) testing autonomous rendezvous and magnetic capture.
- How much does ELSA-d cost?
- ELSA-d's price is not publicly disclosed. DEPLOY has no verified price on record for ELSA-d from Astroscale. Physical-AI systems like this are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price; check the manufacturer for the latest.
- Is ELSA-d actually deployed in the real world?
- Yes. ELSA-d is independently verified in real-world operation on the DEPLOY registry, confirmed at named deployment sites with primary sources: not a concept, render, or demo-only.
- Who makes ELSA-d?
- ELSA-d is made by Astroscale, based in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 2013.
- Where is ELSA-d deployed?
- 1 verified deployment of ELSA-d is on the DEPLOY registry, including at Low Earth Orbit (Tiangong Space Station).
- Can you buy ELSA-d?
- ELSA-d is in pilot deployments with named customers and is not yet broadly for sale.
- What are alternatives to ELSA-d?
- On the DEPLOY registry, comparable space robots to ELSA-d include Chang'e Lander, Mira, W-Series Capsule, Astrobee.
- How does ELSA-d compare to Chang'e Lander?
- ELSA-d and Chang'e Lander (China National Space Administration · 4 deployments) are both space robots on the DEPLOY registry. ELSA-d has 1 verified deployment on record. Compare both records for specs, safety, deployments, and verified-vs-claimed autonomy.
- Is ELSA-d a top space?
- On DEPLOY's intelligence score, which blends verified deployments, safety, adoption, media, and IP signals, ELSA-d ranks in roughly the top 76% of space models tracked by the registry.
- What is ELSA-d's maturity stage?
- ELSA-d is at the pilot stage on the DEPLOY maturity ladder (research, prototype, pilot, commercial, production). Pilot stage means at least one named-customer trial deployment is verified.
- Is ELSA-d still being made?
- ELSA-d has been superseded by a newer generation. The historical record remains on the registry for reference.
- Is ELSA-d safe?
- ELSA-d has no incidents on record in the DEPLOY registry. This does not constitute a safety guarantee; it reflects the incidents DEPLOY has tracked and verified to date.
Methodology: Verified · 2 sources (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-07-12
Verification posture
Verified
Low confidence
Review state
Stable
Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Maturity + lifecycle
Maturity stage: pilot
Lifecycle: superseded
Architectural position
Cohort: space
Sources by quality tier
- 2
- unclassified
- Unclassified source
The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.
Methodology surface for ELSA-d.Recent coverage
ELSA-d in third-party press
In the press
Recent coverage mentioning ELSA-d from third-party publications. Automatically surfaced; not part of the verified registry record.
Machine-readable surfaces
- Markdown mirror: /models/astroscale-elsa-d.md
- JSON-LD: embedded in this page’s head
- REST API: /v1/models/a849db2b-3190-4914-90e7-7090453e9683
- Revision history: /models/astroscale-elsa-d/history
- Data documentation: /data
- Query this programmatically: Deploy MCP
Reality vs attention
ELSA-d draws attention at the 5th percentile but verifies reality at the 28th percentile among space robots. Hype Gap -22.5, 23rd widest among space robots.
6-month trend
Analysis
Limited independent press and video coverage to date.
Signal flags
Dimension breakdown
Verified signal
Attention (reach, not merit)
DEPLOY Intelligence scores are computed from verified registry data: confirmed deployments, disclosed funding rounds, regulatory filings, active job listings, video viewership, and press coverage. Confidence ratings reflect data availability. Scores update nightly.
DEPLOY Indices — verified vs claimed
Last computed: Jul 21, 2026