Astroscale & ClearSpace Secure Funding For Joint De-Orbit Mission

Astroscale, a leading space debris removal company, and ClearSpace, a pioneer in space sustainability, have announced that they have secured substantial funding to advance their joint mission to de-orbit two satellites simultaneously.

The funding, which comes from [source of funding], will enable the companies to accelerate the development of their innovative technology and finalize plans for the mission. The de-orbit mission aims to remove two satellites from low Earth orbit (LEO), a critical step in addressing the growing issue of space debris.

Astroscale’s spacecraft is a technological evolution of its End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-Multi-client (ELSA-M) servicer, which is about the size of a compact car and recently secured all the government funds needed for its debut mission.

The joint mission between Astroscale and ClearSpace represents a significant milestone in the field of space sustainability. By successfully de-orbiting two satellites simultaneously, the companies hope to demonstrate the feasibility of large-scale space debris removal operations. This could pave the way for future missions to clear up the vast amounts of debris currently orbiting our planet.

ClearSpace has  not disclosed which pair of U.K.-licensed satellites it plans to remove from LEO with a robotic arm capture mechanism on a similarly sized spacecraft.

The de-orbit mission is expected to have a significant impact on the long-term sustainability of space exploration and commercial activities. By reducing the risk of collisions and damage to operational satellites, the mission will help to ensure the continued viability of space-based services.