UK Space Debris Removal Mission on Track
The first UK space debris removal mission will demonstrate the capabilities of Astroscale's Active Debris Removal (ADR) servicer.
“As our reliance on satellites for everyday activity grows, the UK is leading efforts to make space more sustainable.”
Ray Fielding, Head of Sustainability and ADR Mission at the UK Space Agency.
The UK Government has a strategic priority to lead the global space debris removal effort. Astroscale has an innovative solution based on in-orbit heritage that will capitalize on proprietary technology from an industrial partnership across the breadth of the UK.
The UK space debris removal mission … designated 'COSMIC', or Cleaning Outer Space Mission through Innovative Capture … will harness Astroscale’s Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) and robotic debris capture capabilities to remove two defunct British satellites currently orbiting Earth by 2026.
“As our reliance on satellites for everyday activity grows, the UK is leading efforts to make space more sustainable,” said Ray Fielding, Head of Sustainability and ADR Mission at the UK Space Agency. “We’re backing companies, such as Astroscale, to design innovative new missions to clear hazardous space junk. We’re also developing new capabilities to improve how we track objects in orbit, while setting new standards and working closely with international partners to ensure a safe and secure space environment for future generations.”
UK Space Debris Removal Mission will De-Orbit Two Objects
Astroscale is currently working with selected industrial partners on the design of a spacecraft that will incorporate an innovative robotic arm to safely and securely capture a defunct satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO). Following capture, COSMIC will maneuver the defunct satellite out of the LEO environment and release it into a lower disposal orbit where it will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. The COSMIC servicer will then go on to rendezvous with, capture and remove a second debris object.
“Active Debris Removal means we’re trying to grab hold of an object in space that was not designed with capture in mind,” said Sarah Cawley, Senior Project Manager for COSMIC at Astroscale. “In LEO, objects are hurtling through space at 17,000 miles per hour. Our job is to design a spacecraft that can approach the unprepared satellite, analyze its behavior and trajectory, and then maneuver to capture it safely. Our in-house engineering expertise and in-orbit heritage puts us in a leading position to turn this innovative solution into a reality and help the UK Government realize the ambition to launch a national mission to remove space debris, through national capability and partnerships.”
“Astroscale was founded in 2013 with the goal of enabling a sustainable space environment for future generations,” said Nick Shave, Managing Director of Astroscale UK. “We now offer a variety of in-orbit services across the company, providing satellite operators with robust and responsible solutions. ADR is focused on the removal of defunct satellites or unprepared debris. We are excited to draw on our mission heritage and to partner with the UK Space Agency on this mission-first for the nation. Through COSMIC, Astroscale is pushing the commercial in-orbit servicing economy forward, developing national capability, world-leading facilities and strong partnerships across the whole of the UK.”
The COSMIC mission is being developed in collaboration with 10 UK-based partner companies in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland including: MDA UK, Thales Alenia Space UK, Nammo, GMV-NSL, Raytheon NORSS, Goonhilly Earth Station, Satellite Applications Catapult, Willis Towers Watson, and other advisory and industrial partners. The team combines extensive systems engineering, Guidance, Navigation and Control, mission operations and ground segment expertise.
(Source: Astroscale news release. Images provided)