The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has announced plans to remove two defunct British satellites from low Earth orbit (LEO) by 2032, marking a significant step toward addressing the growing issue of space debris. The program, supported by a £60 million government investment, aims to enhance the safety of the increasingly congested orbital environment while fostering the development of the British space sector.

The mission will be carried out by ClearSpace UK, the British subsidiary of a Swiss company, which is developing a "chaser" spacecraft designed to capture and safely deorbit the inactive satellites. These satellites, inactive for over a decade, currently orbit the Earth at speeds exceeding 17,000 mph and pose risks to operational spacecraft and critical infrastructure. If left unaddressed, they could remain in orbit for up to a century, contributing to the growing cloud of space debris.

Space debris, consisting of millions of objects ranging from tiny fragments to large rocket boosters, has long been recognized as a hazard to active satellites and manned missions. The risk was dramatically illustrated in 2009 when a collision between two satellites created nearly 2,000 new pieces of debris. Such fragments travel at velocities capable of causing severe damage; experts warn that even debris only a few centimeters in size can disable functioning satellites.

The International Space Station (ISS) regularly performs evasive maneuvers to avoid debris, and its exterior shows evidence of minor impacts. In 2024, astronauts had to take shelter in an attached spacecraft when passing close to remnants of a disintegrated satellite. According to Davide Amato, an associate professor of computational astrodynamics at Imperial College London, space debris threatens the economic and strategic assets that orbit the planet. He estimates the financial damage from potential collisions could reach trillions of pounds and cautions that some heavily used orbits might become unusable in the future if debris accumulation continues unchecked.

ClearSpace UK's approach involves deploying the chaser craft to capture the defunct satellites using specialized clamps before directing them back into Earth’s atmosphere, where they are expected to burn up safely upon re-entry. Preparations for the mission, including the development of software, prototypes, and modeling, are already underway. The first satellite removal is planned for mid-2030, followed by a second mission in 2032.

By undertaking this operation, the UK hopes to set a precedent for responsible behavior in space, encouraging other nations to participate in debris mitigation, thereby contributing to the long-term sustainability of space operations and the safety of valuable orbital infrastructure.