Following design approval in early September 2022, Barum & Dewar is pleased to announce the completion, testing and safe delivery of the latest DELTA^® transit and storage container for the ELSA-M servicer to Astroscale’s brand new facility at Harwell, Oxfordshire.

With the ELSA-M project set to launch at the end of 2024 it will be pivotal in delivering Astroscale’s vision of securing the safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations. The ELSA-M mission is designed to develop a servicer aircraft that will be capable of capturing and de-orbiting multiple satellites in a single full-service commercial mission.

Barum & Dewar based its design for the ELSA-M container around its field proven DELTA^® style of container, comprising a shallow mild steel base structure onto which carefully selected anti-vibration wire mounts were installed along with a deep removable lid. To ease the removal and fitting of the lid even within reduced height areas, the lid was manufactured in two halves allowing it to be easily removed without the need for an overhead crane.

The container will safely transport the ELSA-M spacecraft both domestically and internationally providing a secure, clean, and dry environment. In addition, the container will need to protect the payload from shock, vibration and ground handling movements whilst providing safe working load practices. The DELTA^® style design benefits from years of field proven heritage with examples currently in use around the world thus significantly de-risking this element of the program.