ClearSpace, founded in 2018, is an in-orbit servicing company focused on developing technologies for space debris removal and sustainable space operations. They are building capabilities for a range of in-orbit services, including debris disposal, satellite life extension, in-orbit transport, inspection, repair, and recycling. ClearSpace's major partners and customers include the European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK Space Agency, with whom they are working on active debris removal missions like ClearSpace-1 and CLEAR. Associated keywords: space debris removal, in-orbit servicing, active debris removal (ADR), space sustainability, robotics, ESA, UK Space Agency.
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ESA procured the ClearSpace-1 mission as a service from Clear Space to demonstrate technologies needed for debris removal and to help establish a commercial space debris-removal ecosystem.
ESA procured the ClearSpace-1 mission as a service from the Swiss start-up ClearSpace to demonstrate debris-removal technologies and support a commercial space ecosystem.
ClearSpace-1 is scheduled to launch in 2026 on a Vega C rocket.
ESA awarded ClearSpace a contract worth 86,000,000 EUR for the mission to remove the Vespa payload adapter.
ClearSpace raised 26,700,000 EUR in January to support work on the ClearSpace-1 mission.
ESA selected Swiss startup ClearSpace in 2020 to fly a mission that will grapple and remove the 113-kilogram Vespa payload adapter from orbit.
Swiss startup ClearSpace plans to launch its first de-orbit demonstration mission in 2026.
Astroscale, ClearSpace, D-Orbit, and Telespazio collaborating with Thales Alenia Space received funding to mature their IOS concepts for presentation to the 2022 ESA Council at Ministerial level.
After commissioning in sun-synchronous orbit, the ClearSpace-1 servicer spacecraft will raise its orbit to rendezvous with, capture, and induce atmospheric reentry of the client object.
In 2019, ESA selected ClearSpace from a field of more than a dozen candidates to lead the first mission to remove an ESA-owned item from orbit.
Arianespace will deliver the ClearSpace-1 mission using its Vega C launcher to support sustainable use of space.
The ClearSpace-1 launch will use the Vega C light launcher to release the spacecraft into sun-synchronous orbit for commissioning and critical tests.
Arianespace will use Vega C to deliver the ClearSpace-1 mission in support of a sustainable use of space.
The ClearSpace-1 mission is supported by ESA’s Space Safety program and is being procured as a service contract with a startup-led commercial consortium to help establish a market for in-orbit servicing and debris removal.
In 2019, ESA selected ClearSpace from a field of more than a dozen candidates to lead the first mission to remove an ESA-owned item from orbit.
Luc Piguet expects the U.K. to select either ClearSpace or Japan-based Astroscale early next year for a British mission to remove two spacecraft from low Earth orbit in 2026.
ClearSpace created a U.S.-based subsidiary called ClearSpace Today, Inc. on 2023-04-17 as its first expansion outside of Europe.
ClearSpace is seeking co-funding from the European Space Agency for a mission to extend the life of a geostationary Intelsat satellite before it runs out of fuel around 2026–2028.
The ClearSpace-1 servicer will attempt to capture the spent Vega upper stage using four articulated arms.
ClearSpace expects to start building the ClearSpace-1 servicer next year for integration in 2025.