Space startup Astroscale shares rise 19% on $81 million space debris removal contract

Shares of Japanese space startup Astroscale rose 19% on Monday, after the company said it would sign a 12 billion yen ($81 million) contract with Japan’s space agency to remove debris from the earth’s orbit.

Astroscale said its Japan unit would sign the five-year contract with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Tuesday.