French space agency CNES has awarded a contract to space debris removal startup Dark to conduct an emergency space debris interception simulation. The study will focus on assessing Dark’s Interceptor system, which is designed to be rapidly deployed to capture large space debris objects like rocket bodies.
The Dark Interceptor is an air-launched rocket that will have the ability to be rapidly deployed for the purpose of emergency collision avoidance involving large space debris objects. While the rocket’s primary mission will be debris removal, the company will also offer payload delivery and hypersonic experimentation services.
The CNES-contracted simulation of the Interceptor will utilize Salazar, a framework developed by Dark that fully simulates the overall process and behaviour of its vehicle across various scenarios and mission types. CNES has selected a rocket body from a list of 50 objects that have been identified as needing to be urgently removed from orbit and defined a mission scenario that Dark will have to execute.
According to Dark, work on the simulation has already commenced and will be completed later this year.
This most recently contracted study is, however, not the first time Dark has worked with CNES to lay the groundwork for a launch capability that could be rapidly deployed. In early 2022, Dark announced that it was working with French regulators from CNES and DGAC (the French civil aviation authority) to define a potential path forward that would allow the company to conduct its launch operations in French airspace.
All of the country’s current legislation was written with a focus on missions launched from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. As a result, in order to enable launches from the French mainland, the existing regulations will need to be amended or new regulations written.
Dark is currently targeting 2026 for the maiden launch of its Interceptor rocket. Earlier this week, the company revealed that it had begun testing the main engine and thrusters for the rocket’s kick stage.
