ClearSpace wins £61m UK refuellable spacecraft contract

(SpaceEnergy) The UK Space Agency has awarded ClearSpace a £61m contract to build a refuellable spacecraft capable of removing two defunct satellites from orbit, advancing Britain's orbital servicing capabilities.

ClearSpace UK has been appointed prime contractor for the UK Active Debris Removal (UK ADR) mission, responsible for spacecraft design, development and delivery.

The spacecraft will use autonomous rendezvous, navigation and robotic capture systems to approach two UK-registered satellites that were not designed for servicing.

After capturing each target, the spacecraft will manoeuvre it into a lower orbit where atmospheric drag can eventually cause destructive re-entry.

The UK government said the spacecraft will be designed to accept refuelling, potentially supporting further operations beyond its initial debris-removal assignments.

That capability remains a design objective rather than a demonstrated orbital refuelling system.

The government targets launch from Saxavord Spaceport in Scotland in 2029, with both satellites to be removed by 2032. ClearSpace said operational timing remains subject to final mission scheduling.

The award follows earlier development work on ClearSpace's UK CLEAR mission, including a £2.35m contract announced in September 2024.

The new £61m contract represents a separate transition from preliminary technology development to procurement of an operational spacecraft.

It is also distinct from ClearSpace's European Space Agency-backed Phoenix geostationary satellite life-extension programme.