Clearspace-1 is ESA’s first mission to demonstrate how to remove a piece of space debris from Earth’s orbit. It will rendezvous with, capture and safely bring down a derelict object for a safe atmospheric reentry – the near future of what space experts call Active Debris Removal (ADR).

The first mission to remove a piece of space debris from orbit, Clearspace-1 will rendezvous with, capture and safely bring down a large derelict object for a safe atmospheric reentry A 112 kg defunct rocket part, launched in 2013, remains lingering in space alongside millions of other bits of space debris.

ClearSpace-1 will be the first space mission to remove an item of debris from orbit, planned for launch in 2025. The mission is being procured as a service contract with a start-up-led commercial consortium, to help establish a new market for in-orbit servicing, as well as debris removal.

Swiss start-up ClearSpace SA has signed a service contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) worth 86.2 million euros to remove orbital debris. This mission, named ClearSpace-1, will see the first debris removed by 2025.

Switzerland-based ClearSpace and its industrial partners have successfully passed their first major program review with the European Space Agency (ESA) for its ground-breaking mission to remove a large debris object from Earth orbit. With this milestone, ClearSpace has shown the ability to meet the technology requirements this mission demands.