REACCH’s Time in Space

Countdown Timer

201

Days

03

Hours

09

Minutes

 

Overview

REACCH is a mechanically-articulated end effector with a novel combination of previously-validated technologies, including gecko adhesion, to enable soft and secure capture of objects in space. REACCH is capable of non-destructively securing and selectively releasing objects of nearly any shape, size, or surface condition, making it extremely ubiquitous in capturing a wide variety of orbital debris objects.

Launch

SpaceX’s 31st resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched November 4th at 9:29 PM EST and contained KMI’s REACCH prototype for delivery to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for in-space testing. 

Operations

Once on board the ISS, REACCH demonstrated KMI’s Relocation As A Service (RAAS) capabilities, which offer critical space debris removal and orbit relocation, enabling safer and more sustainable space operations. Six sessions were run, and 172 capture cycles were completed in total. These operations were run by several ISS crew members individually or in tandem, by a combination of Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit, and Takuya Onishi.

Return

On May 23rd, the SpaceX Dragon CRS-32 cargo spacecraft autonomously undocked from the zenith port of the International Space Station's Harmony module with REACCH stowed onboard for return. Splashdown occurred on May 25th at 1:44 AM EDT.

Next Steps

With REACCH back on Earth, KMI will continue REACCH development based on data gathered from the ISS demonstrations and review of the REACCH hardware.

Accolades, Superlatives, and Items of Note

  • First private company to capture objects repeatedly in space

  • First commercial entity to capture an unprepared object in space

  • Third uncontrolled capture executed worldwide

  • Largest ever Astrobee payload by mass

  • Largest ever Astrobee payload by volume

  • First PD to retest Astrobee with payload during EMI

  • Downmassed on the first SpaceX capsule to splash down on West Coast

  • Most-viewed post on ISS official Instagram (23.3M views, 1M+ likes, as of May 23, 2025)