The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced a collaboration with the startup ClearSpace to launch the first space debris removal mission in 2025.
The mission, named ClearSpace-1, will utilize a robot equipped with four arms to capture the Vega Secondary Payload Adapter (Vespa) that was left behind by ESA’s Vega launch vehicle in 2013. This 100 kg piece of space debris is currently floating in orbit at an altitude of approximately 800 km above the Earth.
Robot equipped with 4 arms to capture space debris.
“All previous orbital captures have involved fully controlled target objects. Space debris, however, cannot be controlled in the same way; instead, it drifts and often tumbles randomly,” said ESA Director General Jan Wörner.
The European Space Agency recently signed a contract worth $104 million with the Swiss startup ClearSpace to carry out this mission. The team will use the ClearSpace-1 robot to capture Vespa from low Earth orbit and pull it down into the atmosphere, where both will burn up. If everything goes according to plan, this will be the first time a piece of space debris is removed from orbit.
“The mission to capture and handle an uncontrolled space object is extremely challenging. With the expected rapid increase in the number of new satellites over the next decade, regular removal of space debris is becoming essential to keep the debris level under control, preventing a cascade of collisions that could worsen the situation,” Wörner added.
Simulation of the ClearSpace-1 robot capturing space debris using its 4 robotic arms. (Video: ClearSpace).
Currently, there is a significant amount of debris in low Earth orbit, ranging from non-functional satellites to rocket stages and parts of launch vehicles after separation. These objects are orbiting Earth at speeds of up to tens of thousands of kilometers per hour, posing a collision risk to satellites and the International Space Station, as well as threatening future space missions.
“At such high speeds, even a small screw can cause significant damage upon impact,” emphasized ClearSpace CEO Luc Piguet. “The ClearSpace-1 robot will clean up the orbit, ensuring that debris does not affect future missions, benefiting the entire space industry. Our goal is to build an affordable and sustainable space debris removal service.”
In addition to the contract with ESA, ClearSpace will also rely on commercial investors to cover the mission costs. As part of the Active Debris Removal and In-Orbit Servicing Initiative (ADRIOS) project by ESA, the agency will provide essential technologies, including advanced guidance, robotic arms, navigation, control systems, and vision-based artificial intelligence, to enable ClearSpace-1 to autonomously handle its target.
Vespa was chosen as the first target for ClearSpace-1 due to its relatively simple shape, robust structure, and size comparable to a small satellite. If successful, the team could leverage similar technology to tackle larger and more challenging pieces of space debris in the future.
