Astroscale proposes fleet of 'bodyguard' satellites to shield assets from orbital attacks

Japan's Astroscale wants to repurpose its orbital inspection and capture technology into 'bodyguard' spacecraft that protect Western satellites from adversary maneuvers. A first protector could be ready to launch in under three years, with a mission costing about 1% of a military GEO constellation such as the U.K.'s £8.4 billion Skynet fleet.

• Astroscale says a first bodyguard satellite could launch in under three years
• A bodyguard mission would cost about 1% of the £8.4 billion Skynet constellation
• The company proposes a pan-European 'geo-patrol' to guard allied satellites
• The push follows Russia's October close approach to an ICEYE satellite