Overview
- The UK Space Agency announced Thursday that it is backing the UK Active Debris Removal programme with more than £60 million and has a reported £61.3 million delivery contract with ClearSpace UK.
- The mission will develop a refuellable spacecraft fitted with multiple robotic grabbing arms to capture two defunct British satellites and lower them into the atmosphere to burn up.
- The craft is scheduled to launch from Saxavord Spaceport in 2029 and is being designed for reuse so it can perform further cleanup and servicing tasks after the first mission.
- Officials say the programme aims to reduce collision risk to satellites that provide GPS, weather forecasts and communications by removing fast‑moving debris from low Earth orbit.
- Beyond the first removals, ministers expect the project to grow UK skills and supply chains in rendezvous operations, robotics and mission control and to anchor the domestic ISAM sector.