The UK is preparing to test technology that could change how obsolete satellites are dealt with, as it develops a spacecraft capable of capturing two defunct satellites and sending them back towards Earth.

Scheduled for 2029, the Active Debris Removal mission (UK ADR) will demonstrate a new approach to clearing hazardous objects from orbit.

The project is being delivered by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) in partnership with ClearSpace UK.

Its spacecraft will use robotic capture technology to collect the two satellites, then release them into a lower orbit so they burn up naturally in the atmosphere.

Beyond removing existing space junk, the mission is designed to advance technologies for repairing, refuelling, and maintaining spacecraft.

These capabilities could help reduce the number of satellites abandoned in orbit and establish new opportunities for Britain’s growing space industry.

Space Minister Liz Lloyd explained: “Space junk and debris pose an immense and growing challenge, but with our homegrown expertise, the UK is determined to lead the global effort to clean up space.

“By backing this world-first mission, we will protect the satellites that underpin modern life, from keeping us connected with loved ones and delivering accurate weather forecasts to keeping our country safe.

“This is our Space Strategy in action: giving British firms the support and clear direction they need to turn bold ideas into cutting-edge innovation, strengthen our world-class satellite sector and drive economic growth across the country.”

Tackling the growing space debris problem

Thousands of active satellites support services ranging from GPS navigation and weather forecasting to communications and national security. However, these systems face risks from defunct satellites and fragments left behind in orbit.

Hundreds of thousands of tracked debris objects are large enough to damage critical space infrastructure. Travelling at speeds exceeding 17,000 miles per hour, these objects can pose a significant hazard to operational satellites.

The UK ADR mission aims to demonstrate how robotic space debris removal could help protect the orbital environment. Its planned capture and disposal of two satellites will mark a significant step toward practical solutions.

Spacecraft designed for future missions

The UK ADR spacecraft will be designed for refuelling and future use, rather than serving as a single-use vehicle. This approach could let the technology support further debris-removal operations over several years.

The spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Saxavord Spaceport in Scotland in 2029. The spaceport recently received £30m in government funding to support the UK’s sovereign launch capability.

UKSA is working with ClearSpace UK to deliver the mission, developing British capabilities in spacecraft servicing and robotic capture.

The project is also expected to strengthen domestic supply chains and support investment across the country, from Southampton to Newcastle.

A public competition to name the spacecraft will also open, inviting submissions from the public.

UKSA’s Co-Director Dr Alice Bunn added: “This mission is about much more than removing debris. It is about developing the capabilities that will enable future servicing, assembly and manufacturing in orbit.

“The technologies being developed through ADR will help establish the UK’s position at the forefront of a new generation of space services while supporting a sustainable future for activities in space.”

Building Britain’s in-orbit servicing industry

UK ADR forms part of the emerging In-orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) sector, which is predicted to become a billion-dollar industry within the next decade.

Most satellites are currently treated as single-use assets. Once they run out of fuel or develop faults, they are typically discarded. Technologies that let spacecraft be repaired, refuelled, and protected could change how these assets are managed.

The Government’s National Space Strategy has identified ISAM as one of four priority areas, bringing together ambitions for economic growth, defence and national security.

The initiative also supports a wider UK space industry worth £18.6bn and employing more than 55,000 people in skilled jobs.

By demonstrating how multiple satellites can be removed in a single mission, UK ADR aims to advance space debris removal while establishing capabilities that could support the UK’s longer-term ambitions for a more sustainable and commercially competitive space sector.