The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is tapping ClearSpace for a major debris removal mission. ClearSpace will be the prime contractor to deliver the U.K.’s first nationally commissioned active debris removal mission, the UK Active Debris Removal mission (UK ADR). The UK ADR was commissioned by UKSA under a 61 million pound ($80.7 million) contract. ClearSpace announced the deal on Oct. 15.
The mission will be led and delivered with partners across the United Kingdom’s space sector to demonstrate advanced autonomous guidance, navigation and control, alongside capture technologies capable of safely interacting with unprepared objects in orbit. The mission will remove two U.K.-registered defunct satellites from Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). It is tasked with demonstrating the ability to approach, capture and safely remove objects that were not designed for servicing.
It is targeted for operations in 2029 and intended to establish U.K. flight heritage in the technologies that underpin future in-orbit servicing missions.
“Being selected by the UKSA as prime contractor for the UK Active Debris Removal mission is an important milestone for ClearSpace. Taking responsibility for delivering complex in-orbit operations for our customers is exactly where we want to be, and UK ADR brings that into operational delivery for a national customer. The mission joins a portfolio spanning inspection, proximity operations, capture, debris removal and life extension. We look forward to working closely with the UKSA to deliver it, and to building the flight heritage a future in-orbit services market will depend on,” Luc Piguet, CEO and co-founder of ClearSpace, said, in a statement.
