Want to go deeper? Visit ClearSpace (company).
For further informationEurope's first active debris removal — capturing dead satellites and rocket parts from orbit.
Last reviewed: 4 sources cited
ClearSpace is proving that debris removal can move from demonstration to routine service, backed by ESA and national space agencies. Every captured object is one fewer collision risk for satellites, crewed missions, and the telescopes watching the sky.
ClearSpace, founded in 2018 as a spin-off from EPFL in Switzerland, headquartered in Luxembourg with offices across Switzerland, the U.K., and Germany. It is a privately held in-orbit servicing company.
Robotic servicers that find, capture, and deorbit space debris, plus inspection and life-extension missions. ClearSpace-1 uses four robotic arms to grapple a non-responsive object and drag it into a controlled reentry.
ClearSpace-1 was commissioned by ESA as the world's first active debris removal mission. Its original target, a Vega rocket adapter left in The curved path an object takes as it travels around a planet, moon or star, like a satellite circling Earth. Glossary in 2013, was replaced by ESA's retired PROBA-1 satellite. ClearSpace-1 is targeted for 2028 (ESA lists 2029). The PRELUDE mission, planned for launch in June 2027, will validate close-proximity rendezvous technology first.
Low Earth orbit for debris removal, with geostationary-orbit life-extension missions planned. ClearSpace is also developing CLEAR with the U.K. Space Agency, a mission to remove two UK-registered objects; it is not yet confirmed (see On the horizon).
Large debris objects are the seeds of future collisions. Removing them before they fragment prevents the Kessler syndrome — a runaway cascade that could make key orbits unusable for generations.
PRELUDE (with ESA). This is a potential solution ClearSpace is advancing. We expect to know more within the next nine months and will keep you updated here.
Source: SpaceNews, ESA and ClearSpace announce PRELUDE (Jan 2026)
Company source: ClearSpace, PRELUDE (company page)
CLEAR (with the UK Space Agency). This is a potential solution ClearSpace is advancing. We expect to know more within the coming months and will keep you updated here.
ClearSpace says CLEAR, with the UK Space Agency, aims to remove two UK-registered derelict satellites. A £61.3 million Phase 3 award has been reported by third-party tender trackers but not yet confirmed by the UK Space Agency, so we are not counting it as active.
Company source: ClearSpace, CLEAR (company page)
Want to go deeper? Visit ClearSpace (company).
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Sources are listed with each fact in the Five W's above.
APA
Saving Planets. (n.d.). ClearSpace. https://www.savingplanets.com/ClearSpace.html
MLA
"ClearSpace." Saving Planets, https://www.savingplanets.com/ClearSpace.html.
