ClearSpace-1
{{Short description|Planned mission to demonstrate space debris removal}}
The ClearSpace-1 (ClearSpace One) mission is an ESA Space debris removal mission led by ClearSpace SA, a Swiss startup company. The mission's objective is to remove the PROBA-1 satellite from orbit. The mission aims to demonstrate technologies for rendezvous, capture, and deorbit for end-of-life satellites and to build a path to space junk remediation.{{cite web |url=https://www.slashgear.com/esa-signs-contract-with-clearspace-to-clean-up-space-debris-27649035/ |title=ESA signs contract with ClearSpace to clean up space debris |last=McGlaun |first=Shane |date=27 November 2020 |website= |publisher= |access-date=27 November 2020 |quote=ClearSpace SA will launch the first active debris removal mission known as ClearSpace-1}}{{cite web|last1=Coxworth|first1=Ben|title=EPFL's CleanSpace One satellite will "eat" space junk|url=http://www.gizmag.com/cleanspace-one-orbital-debris-satellite/38348/|website=Gizmag|accessdate=7 November 2015|date=7 July 2015}} Destructive reentry will destroy both the captured satellite and itself.{{cite web|last1=Volpe|first1=Joseph|title=EPFL's CleanSpace One: clearing up cosmic clutter (video)|url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/02/16/epfls-cleanspace-one-clearing-up-cosmic-clutter-video/|website=Engadget|publisher=AOL|accessdate=7 November 2015|date=16 February 2012}}
Overview
In 2019, the company won a tender for a European Space Agency Space Safety program contract in the Active Debris Removal/In-Orbit Servicing (ADRIOS) project. ClearSpace-1's original target was the VESPA payload adapter from the 2013 Vega flight VV02.[https://www.esa.int/Safety_Security/Clean_Space/ESA_commissions_world_s_first_space_debris_removal ESA commissions world’s first space debris removal] In April 2024, the target was changed to the PROBA-1 satellite.{{cite web |last=Werner |first=Debra |url=https://spacenews.com/major-changes-approved-for-clearspace-1-mission/ |title=Major changes approved for ClearSpace-1 mission |work=SpaceNews |date=24 April 2024 |access-date=24 April 2024}} The mission contract, worth 86 million euros, was signed in November 2020.{{Cite web|title=Call for Media: ESA and ClearSpace SA sign contract for world's first debris removal mission|url=https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/Call_for_Media_ESA_and_ClearSpace_SA_sign_contract_for_world_s_first_debris_removal_mission|access-date=2020-12-01|website=www.esa.int|language=en}} {{Asof|2023|5|post=,}} ClearSpace-1 is expected to be launched in the second half of 2026 on a Vega-C launch vehicle.{{cite web |last=Rainbow |first=Jason |url=https://spacenews.com/clearspace-books-vega-c-for-2026-de-orbit-mission/ |title=ClearSpace books Vega C for 2026 de-orbit mission |work=SpaceNews |date=9 May 2023 |access-date=21 September 2023}}
The VESPA adapter that ClearSpace-1 originally aimed to capture is the size of a washing machine and weighs about 112 kilograms.{{Cite web |title=Europe plans space claw to capture orbiting junk |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/europe-plans-space-claw-capture-orbiting-junk |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=www.science.org |language=en}} ClearSpace-1's device has been described as a four-armed "space claw" that would grip VESPA and steer it back into the Earth's atmosphere, where both would be destroyed via destructive reentry.{{Cite web |title=European Space Agency is sending a giant claw into orbit to clean up space junk |url=https://www.cnet.com/science/european-space-agency-is-sending-a-giant-claw-into-orbit-to-clean-up-space-junk/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=CNET |language=en}} On 22 August 2023, the European Space Agency announced that the VESPA adapter had likely been hit by a small piece of space debris earlier in the month, resulting in the creation of several additional pieces of trackable debris.{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |url=https://spacenews.com/target-of-european-debris-removal-mission-hit-by-other-debris/ |title=Target of European debris removal mission hit by other debris |work=SpaceNews |date=22 August 2023 |access-date=21 September 2023}} Due to the possibility of a collision with debris, the agency opted to change ClearSpace-1's target to the PROBA-1 satellite.
Similar attempts
The ClearSpace-1 mission was preceded by e.Deorbit, a space debris removal mission under planning by ESA in 2010s. In the end, the e.Deorbit mission was not implemented, the satellite was not built and the whole e.Deorbit mission was cancelled. ClearSpace-1 continues the ESA space debris removal aspirations.
Tokyo-based Astroscale is a space debris removal company testing a removal device called End-of-Life Services (ELSA-d) that successfully demonstrated many of the key technologies required for space debris removal in 2021 and 2022, including magnetic docking with a client in 2021 and close approach RPO in 2022. {{Asof|2023}} ELSA-d was in its de-orbiting phase.{{Cite news |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=2023-03-03 |title=As space junk threat grows, government and investors seek solutions |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/space-junk-threat-grows-government-investors-seek-solutions-2023-03-03/ |access-date=2023-04-20}}{{Cite web |last=Tereza |first=Pultarova |date=2022-05-06 |title=Astroscale space junk removal satellite nearly catches target in orbital test |url=https://www.space.com/astroscale-space-debris-capture-test-nearly-successful |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Space.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Stoehr |first=Alyssa |date=2023-06-17 |title=Statement on ELSA-d De-Orbit Plan |language=en |work=Astroscale |url=https://astroscale.com/statement-on-elsa-d-de-orbit-plan// |access-date=2023-06-27}}
In 2022, the UK Space Agency awarded £4 million to ClearSpace-1 and Astroscale to remove non-operational British satellites by 2026.{{Cite news |last=Sindreu |first=Jon |title=The Difficult Search for Dangerous Space Junk |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-difficult-search-for-dangerous-space-junk-11668162607 |access-date=2023-04-20 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=11 November 2022 |language=en-US}}
References
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External links
- [https://clearspace.today/ ClearSpace] official homepage
Category:Technology demonstration satellites