ClearSpace, a Swiss company focused on developing and implementing in-orbit servicing (IOS) solutions, particularly in the area of space debris removal, is pioneering a new era of sustainable space solutions. Their vision towards clearing space debris made them the world’s first company to initiate a mission to remove debris from orbit.
ClearSpace-1 Mission
Humanity’s journey to explore space is increasingly threatened by the very debris left behind. With thousands of defunct satellites and fragments from past missions accumulating in Earth’s orbit, the risk of collision continues to grow. The ClearSpace-1 mission is designed to actively remove debris, mitigating these risks and making space safer for future generations. The mission is supported by eight European Space Agency (ESA) member states.
ClearSpace is actively advancing its technological capabilities and strategising upcoming missions beyond ClearSpace-1. These future missions will encompass a wider range of in-orbit services, including repairing, refueling, and refurbishing unoperational satellites, in addition to removing derelict objects.
THE CLEAR MISSION: Pioneering in-orbit services for future space operations
The Clear mission is a National UK Program to remove multiple debris from space. It develops the next generation of debris removal solutions at ClearSpace.
Following the successful completion of a feasibility study of the CLEAR mission to remove two UK-registered derelict objects from low Earth orbit, a consortium led by ClearSpace has been awarded a follow-up contract by the UK Space Agency to perform the preliminary design of the mission. The company’s solution responds to the pressing need to preserve the increasingly congested space environment and is a stepping stone towards other services in orbit.
Partners
ClearSpace’s partners are building the future of sustainable space exploration. Omega has joined forces as their elite mission partner. “Our partnership is the logical next step for a brand with a proud history of both space exploration and Earth conservation. ClearSpace initiative is one of the most important, inspiring and exciting projects since the launch of the Apollo missions,” said OMEGA President and CEO – Raynald Aeschlimann.
ESA and their 8 member states are the institutional and regional partners of ClearSpace. “I am delighted to see other partner supporting the ClearSpace-1 mission. This reconfirms the strong value of developing technology to clean up the orbital environment and helps put European industry in the global lead,” said Head of the Clean Space Office at ESA – Luisa Innocenti.
As the demand for satellite-based services—such as telecommunications, earth observation, and navigation—continues to surge, the launch rate of new satellites is increasing at an unprecedented pace. This rapid expansion is accompanied by a rising number of debris objects, posing a significant challenge to the sustainability of space operations. ClearSpace is addressing this pressing issue by developing innovative debris-removal technology, ensuring that space remains accessible and secure for generations to come.
