ClearSpace UK plans 2029 mission to remove space junk

ClearSpace UK is developing a robotic spacecraft designed to chase down and capture dead satellites in orbit, Fox News reported. The mission is scheduled to launch from Scotland in 2029. The spacecraft will use giant claws to grab orbital debris and push it into Earth's atmosphere to burn up. [1]

The target objects move at speeds of up to 17,000 mph, according to Fox News. Thousands of pieces of space debris are currently circling Earth. These include inactive satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments created by previous collisions, all of which pose collision risks to active spacecraft. [1]

The announcement comes as space traffic continues to grow. As FTMQ News reported earlier, commercial and military activity in orbit has increased, including satellite operations by companies such as Creotech Instruments, which aims to build up to 100 satellites annually by 2029. [4][5]

ClearSpace UK aims to reduce the growing hazard of space junk by operating like an orbital collection vehicle. The planned 2029 mission from Scotland will test the claw capture system directly on orbiting debris, according to Fox News. [1]