Astroscale and OHB to collaborate on space security

OHB and Astroscale Holdings have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore cooperation on capabilities that protect critical infrastructure in space, strengthening industrial ties between Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan.

Announced Wednesday 28 October 2026 at the German Embassy in Tokyo during the German-Japanese industrial collaboration event, the agreement brings together the companies’ complementary expertise across in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM), space domain awareness and related space security applications. It provides a framework to explore joint opportunities that support secure and sustainable operations in orbit.

How closer cooperation can open opportunities for UK capabilities

A key focus is closer cooperation between Astroscale’s UK entity and OHB in Germany, creating potential export opportunities for UK-developed capability and opportunities for both companies to address emerging customer needs. The agreement also provides a basis to explore cooperation in Japan, drawing on Astroscale’s presence in the region.

The collaboration comes as the UK and Germany deepen their strategic partnership through the Kensington Treaty and Trinity House Agreement. It aligns with the ambition set out in the joint statement on the 8 October 2026 to strengthen cooperation in space across civil, commercial, security and defence interests.

By connecting industrial expertise across borders, OHB and Astroscale aim to support these shared priorities while opening new routes to growth.

Building links to further industrial innovation and greater resilience in space

Astroscale’s operations in the UK and Japan also offer a link between the two countries’ industrial capabilities and their wider international partnerships. The MoU demonstrates how cooperation between companies can help translate relationships among like-minded nations into opportunities for innovation, trade and greater resilience in space.

Nobu Okada, founder and CEO, Astroscale: “The future of space security will be built on trusted partnerships between allied nations, while sovereign capabilities will remain important, many of the challenges facing spacefaring nations are too complex and too interconnected for any single country to address alone.

“By bringing together complementary expertise from Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan through this collaboration, we are helping to build the industrial relationships and capabilities needed to support the long-term security, resilience and sustainability of the space domain.”

Markus Moeller, CSO at OHB SE: “Space infrastructure has become indispensable to modern society and must be protected accordingly. Combining our expertise with Astroscale’s unique capabilities in in-orbit servicing will allow us to explore innovative approaches for supporting secure, resilient and sustainable space operations. We see significant potential in working together to address evolving customer requirements and future challenges in orbit.”