What is the UK Space Agency going to do?

Knowing we need to take a more proactive approach to removing space debris, the UK Space Agency have announced their Active Debris Removal (ADR) mission. As the name suggests, this mission will actively remove some of the debris that’s clogging up space. Just like we clean litter from the streets and oceans, this mission will help remove litter from space to make it safer for everyone.

A specially designed spacecraft built by ClearSpace UK will use a robotic claw – similar to those used in an arcade claw grabber game - to grab two old satellites that no longer work. Equipped with advanced British robotics and autonomous navigation technology, it will gently guide them out of low Earth orbit, back towards Earth, where they will safely burn up in the atmosphere.

Launching in 2029 from SaxaVord spaceport in Scotland the ADR mission is a world first – a spacecraft has never disposed of more than one satellite in this way before.

Header image credit: ClearSpace UK