ClearSpace to deliver the UK’s first national active debris removal mission

ClearSpace has signed a contract worth more than GBP 61 million with the UK Space Agency to deliver the United Kingdom’s first nationally commissioned active debris removal mission.

ClearSpace has been selected by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) as prime contractor for UK Active Debris Removal (UK ADR), the country’s first nationally commissioned active debris removal mission. The contract is worth more than GBP 61 million and was signed on 14 October 2026 at ClearSpace’s London office. UKSA, as the government customer, sets the mission requirements and oversees performance, while ClearSpace is responsible for design, development and delivery.

UK ADR will target two defunct UK-registered satellites in low Earth orbit. The mission aims to show that objects not designed to be serviced can be safely approached, captured and removed, using autonomous guidance, navigation and control as well as capture systems for unprepared objects. Operations are targeted for 2029, subject to final mission and launch scheduling.

Delivery with the UK space sector

The mission will be delivered with partners across the UK space sector and the national supply chain, and ClearSpace UK is expanding its engineering, program and industrial capabilities for this and future in-orbit servicing work. The announcement follows the UK Space Strategy published in September 2026, which names in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) as a priority subsector.

UK Space Minister Liz Lloyd says space junk and debris pose an immense and growing challenge. Luc Piguet, CEO and co-founder of ClearSpace, says the company is taking responsibility for delivering complex in-orbit operations for its customers.

The contract adds to ClearSpace’s broader range of in-orbit servicing activities. The company has also signed a contract with the European Space Agency for the next phase of its Phoenix satellite life-extension mission.