The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has started a £75.6m tender process to launch the first UK mission to tackle space debris. 

The aim of the proposed active debris removal (ADR) mission is to use British ingenuity to design a spacecraft capable of capturing and de-orbiting two defunct UK-licensed satellites from low-Earth orbit (LEO). 

Once these satellites have been safely guided into the Earth’s atmosphere, they will burn up. 
This is a step towards removing space debris, which includes old satellites, spent rocket stages and fragments from collisions in orbit.

The UKSA estimates that 140 million pieces of space debris smaller than 1cm, and over 54,000 tracked objects larger than 10cm, are in LEO.

This orbiting junk can collide with vital space infrastructure, including satellite networks that power GPS, weather forecasting and emergency communications.

Last year, a defunct Russian satellite broke up into nearly 200 pieces in LEO, forcing astronauts on board the International Space Station to seek shelter in their spacecraft. 

If left unchecked, the accumulation of space debris could reach a point where it becomes too hazardous for spacecraft to operate in certain orbits, or even leave Earth.

The UKSA sees the ADR mission as a critical step in addressing the threat of space debris and ensuring the long-term safety of the orbital environment. 

Minister for space Sir Chris Bryant said: “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.” 

For this ADR mission, the UKSA is looking for a single supplier to deliver the five-year research and development contract, with a targeted launch date of 2028. 

The aim of this £75.6m competitive contract approach is different from the UKSA’s traditional grant approach. The reason for going down the path of having companies compete through a tender process is to help stimulate private investment and create high-skilled jobs.

Paul Bate, CEO of the UKSA, said: “This mission showcases the UK’s technical excellence and our commitment to protecting the space systems that modern life depends on. 

“It’s about securing the future of space for everyone, delivering tangible benefits here on Earth, and positioning the UK at the forefront of the in-orbit services market.” 

With this mission, the UK Space Agency is also aiming to help advance the field of in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM). This is about performing servicing, maintenance and manufacturing operations on satellites or other spacecraft while they are in orbit. 

ISAM is a sustainability initiative aimed at extending the life of satellites and reducing the amount of space debris. This was discussed in our recent E+T podcast: ‘Is the space industry doing more harm than good?’ with guest Ray Fielding, head of sustainability at the UKSA.

In July 2024, Astroscale’s active ADR spacecraft, ADRAS-J, sent images back to Earth of a close encounter with space debris in Earth’s orbit.