UK to build satellite for first mission to remove ‘space junk’

The UK will help build the satellite for the first-ever mission to remove so-called space junk.  

Nicknamed “The Claw”, the Clearspace-1 satellite will use a pincer motion to collect debris, before giving it a controlled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere – allowing it to decompose safely and away from life. 

Planned for 2025, Clearspace-1 is a European Space Agency mission and is the first-ever space mission dedicated to removing an existing object in orbit. It is hoped it will be the first step towards a cleaner space environment.  

High-tech engineering firm Elecnor DEIMOS in the UK will play a leading role in Clearspace-1, designing the Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS). This will orientate and position the satellite to help grab the space junk, using power generators, propulsive devices called thrusters, and antennas.   

‘Immeasurable benefits’

Science Minister, Amanda Solloway, announced the project today (17 November). 

She said: “From broadband to tracking climate change, satellites have immeasurable benefits on all of our lives. But as many of them break into space debris, its vital that we take a global leadership role in preventing them from becoming space hazards.  

“We plan to be at the forefront of efforts to track and remove this junk and I am delighted that technology supporting this pioneering ambition is going to be made right here in Britain.”     

Defunct rocket bodies

Since the Autumn of 1957 nearly 10,000 satellites have been put into the sky.  

The vast majority of these are now defunct or destroyed. 

It is estimated that there are more than 160 million objects in orbit, most of which are “space junk”. 

The junk ranges from spent rocket bodies to a spatula dropped by an astronaut. 

Jacob Geer, Head of Space Surveillance and Tracking at the UK Space Agency told i: “If the space debris hits your satellite then it is a pretty terminal thing.  

“We need to do something about space debris because in a few years’ time we may not be able to access orbits or get to space stations, telescopes or satellites the way we can do now and that will set the human race back.” 

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