ClearSpace to clear space of dead satellites. Arianespace to launch ClearSpace-1 into space in 2026.

Teknik

Motor

Samhälle

Spel

Popkultur

Fritid

Tjock

Tester

Dagens fråga

Tipsa!

Skaffa Feber+

Mitt konto

Hetaste

Senaste

Foto: ClearSpace

ClearSpace to clear space of dead satellites

Arianespace to launch ClearSpace-1 into space in 2026

The Swiss company ClearSpace has signed an agreement with Arianespace, which means that ClearSpace's space debris collection satellite, ClearSpace-1, can be sent into space within a few years.

ClearSpace's business idea is to develop spacecraft that will act as space garbage collectors and remove decommissioned satellites from Earth's orbit. We wrote a bit about the company already in 2019, but now it seems that the launch of the company's first cleanup mission is getting closer. Sometime in 2026, ClearSpace-1 is expected to lift off into space aboard one of Arianespace's Vega C rockets.

Once ClearSpace-1 is in space, the idea is that it will use its four robotic arms to grab a satellite weighing about 100 kg and then drive it and itself into Earth's atmosphere, where the equipment will burn up. When we wrote about ClearSpace a few years ago, we mentioned that there was some criticism of ClearSpace's technology because it is not reusable, which could make it very expensive to remove all the dead satellites in orbit around Earth.

Above is an illustration of what it could look like when ClearSpace's garbage spacecraft grabs a satellite. The picture below shows ClearSpace CEO Luc Piguet and Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël.

clearspace.today

Cars,

ClearSpace, Arianespace, ClearSpace-1, space debris, space garbage collectors