A new, world-first mission backed by the UK government with over £60 million aims to clear hazardous space junk orbiting Earth. The initiative will deploy a spacecraft equipped with robotic claws to capture and remove two defunct satellites by 2032, thereby safeguarding essential services such as GPS and weather forecasts, which are crucial for national security and everyday life.
Hazardous old satellites and their remnants pose a significant threat to thousands of active satellites. Hundreds of thousands of tracked debris objects, travelling at speeds exceeding 17,000 miles per hour, can damage vital space infrastructure. The UK’s Active Debris Removal (UK ADR) mission is designed to address this growing problem.
The UK ADR mission is unique in its approach, intending to remove two satellites and release them into the atmosphere where they will naturally burn up. This marks the first time a single spacecraft will dispose of multiple satellites in this manner. The refuellable spacecraft is being designed for long-term use, with the potential to continue clearing space for years to come.
The spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2029 from Saxavord Spaceport in Scotland. This spaceport recently received £30 million in government funding to bolster the UK’s sovereign launch capabilities. A public competition will also commence to name the UK ADR spacecraft.
“"Space junk and debris pose an immense and growing challenge but with our homegrown expertise, the UK is determined to lead the global effort to clean up space."
Liz Lloyd, Space Minister, stated that the UK is committed to leading global efforts in space cleanup, leveraging its domestic expertise. She emphasised that this mission will protect satellites essential for modern life, from communication to weather forecasting, aligning with the UK's Space Strategy to support British firms in developing cutting-edge innovation and driving economic growth.
The UK ADR mission is part of the emerging In-orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) sector, which is projected to become a billion-dollar industry within the next decade. This sector focuses on developing technologies to repair, refuel, and protect orbital assets, a priority under the UK's Space Strategy. The mission builds on Britain’s early market presence and is critical for the broader UK space sector, valued at £18.6 billion and supporting over 55,000 jobs.
The UK Space Agency is collaborating with ClearSpace UK as its industry delivery partner, fostering domestic expertise in spacecraft servicing and robotic capture. This initiative is expected to strengthen British supply chains nationwide.
“"This mission is about much more than removing debris. It is about developing the capabilities that will enable future servicing, assembly and manufacturing in orbit."
Dr Alice Bunn, Co-Director of the UK Space Agency, highlighted that the mission's scope extends beyond debris removal to developing capabilities for future in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing. The technologies developed will position the UK at the forefront of new space services and support a sustainable future for space activities.
“"UK ADR will be delivered here in the UK. Our team brings together engineers and specialists from across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as allies and partners, and as the programme progresses we will create more highly specialised roles in rendezvous and proximity operations, guidance, navigation and control, robotics, spacecraft systems and mission operations."
Rob Atchison, Managing Director of ClearSpace UK, confirmed that the UK ADR mission will be delivered domestically, involving engineers and specialists from across the UK and international partners. He noted that the programme will create specialised roles in various aspects of spacecraft operations. The next phase involves designing, building, and testing a spacecraft capable of safely approaching and capturing objects not designed for capture, in collaboration with UK supply chain partners, with operations targeted for 2029.
