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Astroscale Israel Announces Executive Leadership Change

December 21, 2022

Astroscale Israel, a subsidiary of Astroscale U.S., an entity within Astroscale Holdings Inc., the market leader in securing long-term orbital sustainability, is pleased to announce new executive leadership changes.

Effective January 1, 2023, Ofir Azriel will succeed Arie Halsband as Managing Director of Astroscale Israel. Halsband will retire, at his request, from the role of Managing Director and transition into a Senior Advisor role. He founded on-orbit servicing company Effective Space Solutions and, in 2020, completed acquisition of its assets by Astroscale U.S. He has since grown Astroscale Israel as a space sustainability company and a leading member of the Israeli aerospace industry.

“Arie is a visionary and a pioneer of the Israeli and international space community,” said Nobu Okada, Founder and CEO of Astroscale. “From one entrepreneur to another, I want to thank him for his boldness in growing the space industry in Israel and for his unwavering commitment to advance on-orbit servicing and space sustainability. I am also thrilled to welcome Ofir to the executive leadership team and look forward to Astroscale Israel’s continued growth.”

Azriel has served as Vice President of Engineering at Astroscale Israel, and as a member of the leadership team, he has supported the company through an acquisition, the opening of a new office and two laboratories, and assisted in managing the growth of the business from 9 employees and consultants to more than 40. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the space industry.

“Astroscale Israel is a critical component of our GEO satellite life extension services business,” said Ron Lopez, Astroscale U.S. President and Managing Director. “I applaud Arie for pioneering life extension solutions and thank him for his many contributions. I’m delighted that Ofir is taking on the role of Managing Director, and I have every confidence that under his leadership Astroscale Israel will continue to thrive while remaining a pillar of the Israeli space industry.”

“I am excited to lead our Israel team in fulfilling Astroscale’s crucial vision of a sustainable future for the space industry,” said Azriel. 

Based in Tel Aviv, Astroscale Israel is the company’s research and payload development group for life extension of geostationary satellites, which provide critical communications, navigation and national security services.