Space chiefs to send £100m ‘tow truck’ to clear Earth’s orbit of failed satellites
SPACE chiefs have commissioned a £100million project to clean up debris of failed satellites in Earth’s orbit.
An unmanned “tow truck” will first target part of a European Space Agency rocket left floating 435 miles up since 2013.
Once in space, the craft will grab debris with its robotic arms before returning to Earth. Both will burn up in the atmosphere on re-entry.
Swiss start-up ClearSpace has been chosen by the ESA to carry out what is believed to be a world first mission in 2025.
The British Government is contributing £10million to the cost of the mission, dubbed Clearspace-1.
ClearSpace founder Luc Piguet said: “This is the right time for such a mission. The space debris issue is more pressing than ever before.
“The space debris issue is more pressing than ever before.
“Today we have nearly 2,000 live satellites in space and more than 3,000 failed ones.”
He warned of “multiple mega-constellations” made up of thousands of satellites if no action is taken.
“The need is clear for a 'tow truck' to remove failed satellites from this highly trafficked region,” he added.
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ESA boss Jan Worner hopes the mission will pave the way for a new industry of in-orbit debris removal.
"Imagine how dangerous sailing the high seas would be if all the ships ever lost in history were still drifting on top of the water," Mr Worner.
"That is the current situation in orbit, and it cannot be allowed to continue."
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