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In December, mission experts will provide an overview of the project status, explain the mission’s ambitious design, and describe the next steps leading up to the launch.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is signing a $ 102 million contract with an industrial team, led by Swiss start-up ClearSpace SA, for the world’s first debris removal mission.
In 2025, ClearSpace SA will launch the first active debris removal mission, ClearSpace-1, which will encounter, capture and drop a Vespa payload adapter for reentry.
This object was left in a phased disposal orbit of approximately 801 km by 664 km altitude, complying with space debris mitigation regulations, following Vega’s second flight in 2013. With a mass of 112 kg, the Vespa’s target is close to a small satellite in size.
In December, mission experts will provide an overview of the status of the project, explain the mission’s ambitious design, and describe the next steps leading up to the launch.
ESA is purchasing the initial mission and contributing key competencies as part of the Active Debris Removal / In-Orbit Servicing (ADRIOS) project under ESA’s space security program.
ClearSpace SA will raise the remainder of the cost of the mission through commercial investors.
While ClearSpace SA leads the mission, companies in Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, Poland, the United Kingdom, Portugal and Romania also contribute.
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