The UK Space Agency has issued a £75.6 million (€87.3 million) call for proposals for what it describes as the nation’s first mission to actively remove defunct satellites from orbit.
Announced on 3 July, the Active Debris Removal (ADR) mission will capture and deorbit two defunct UK-licensed satellites from low Earth orbit, where they will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. The UK Space Agency intends to award the contract to a single supplier, with the mission’s launch expected by the end of 2028.
“By tackling the growing threat of space debris head-on, we are protecting the infrastructure that supports everything from national security to everyday connectivity, whilst also creating high-skilled jobs and securing the UK’s leadership in the growing space economy,” said the country’s Minister of Space, Sir Chris Bryant.
According to a 3 July UK Space Agency press release, the ADR mission marks a shift in the agency’s approach to critical technologies, moving from traditional grant funding to competitive contract opportunities. This change, the press release explains, is intended to “stimulate private investment and create high-skilled jobs across the country.”
According to the UK Space Agency, it has already invested £11 million towards its ADR initiative since 2021, which included feasibility studies and design work to support the development of the mission. This funding was awarded to ClearSpace and Astroscale, both of which have completed a Preliminary Design Review of their respective mission designs.
When questioned, the UK Space Agency explained that while ClearSpace and Astroscale laid the groundwork for the ADR initiative, the companies’ mission designs do differ from the mission the agency ultimately envisions pursuing.
“The opportunity is available to any supplier that meets our requirements to bid, and the winning supplier will be selected through a fair and transparent process,” a UK Space Agency spokesperson told European Spaceflight. “Based on our view of the market, including a supplier engagement day held in April, we anticipate multiple companies will seek to participate in the competition.”
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that only ClearSpace had been involved in the initial phases of the ADR initiative, making it the most likely candidate to continue its development.
Keep European Spaceflight Independent
Your donation will help European Spaceflight to continue digging into the stories others miss. Every euro keeps our reporting alive.
