ClearSpace-1

Last updated

The ClearSpace-1 (ClearSpace One) mission is an ESA Space debris removal mission led by ClearSpace SA, a Swiss startup company. The mission's objective is to remove the PROBA-1 satellite from orbit. The mission aims to demonstrate technologies for rendezvous, capture, and deorbit for end-of-life satellites and to build a path to space junk remediation. [1] [2] Destructive reentry will destroy both the captured satellite and itself. [3]

Contents

Overview

In 2019, the company won a tender for a European Space Agency Space Safety program contract in the Active Debris Removal/In-Orbit Servicing (ADRIOS) project. ClearSpace-1's original target was the VESPA payload adapter from the 2013 Vega flight VV02. [4] In April 2024, the target was changed to the PROBA-1 satellite. [5] The mission contract, worth 86 million euros, was signed in November 2020. [6] As of May 2023, ClearSpace-1 is expected to be launched in the second half of 2026 on a Vega-C launch vehicle. [7]

The VESPA adapter that ClearSpace-1 originally aimed to capture is the size of a washing machine and weighs about 112 kilograms. [8] ClearSpace-1's device has been described as a four-armed "space claw" that would grip VESPA and steer it back into the Earth's atmosphere, where both would be destroyed via destructive reentry. [9] On 22 August 2023, the European Space Agency announced that the VESPA adapter had likely been hit by a small piece of space debris earlier in the month, resulting in the creation of several additional pieces of trackable debris. [10] Due to the possibility of a collision with debris, the agency opted to change ClearSpace-1's target to the PROBA-1 satellite. [5]

Similar attempts

The ClearSpace-1 mission was preceded by e.Deorbit, a space debris removal mission under planning by ESA in 2010s. In the end, the e.Deorbit mission was not implemented, the satellite was not built and the whole e.Deorbit mission was cancelled. ClearSpace-1 continues the ESA space debris removal aspirations.

Tokyo-based Astroscale is a space debris removal company testing a removal device called End-of-Life Services (ELSA-d) that successfully demonstrated many of the key technologies required for space debris removal in 2021 and 2022, including magnetic docking with a client in 2021 and close approach RPO in 2022. As of 2023 ELSA-d was in its de-orbiting phase. [11] [12] [13]

In 2022, the UK Space Agency awarded £4 million to ClearSpace-1 and Astroscale to remove non-operational British satellites by 2026. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Envisat</span> ESA Earth observation satellite (2002–2012)

Envisat is a large Earth-observing satellite which has been inactive since 2012. It is still in orbit and considered space debris. Operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), it was the world's largest civilian Earth observation satellite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space debris</span> Pollution around Earth by defunct artificial objects

Space debris are defunct human-made objects in space – principally in Earth orbit – which no longer serve a useful function. These include derelict spacecraft, mission-related debris, and particularly-numerous in-Earth orbit, fragmentation debris from the breakup of derelict rocket bodies and spacecraft. In addition to derelict human-made objects left in orbit, space debris includes fragments from disintegration, erosion, or collisions; solidified liquids expelled from spacecraft; unburned particles from solid rocket motors; and even paint flecks. Space debris represents a risk to spacecraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laser broom</span> Ground-based laser beam-powered system to clear space debris

A laser broom is a proposed ground-based laser beam-powered propulsion system that sweeps space debris out of the path of artificial satellites to prevent collateral damage to space equipment. It heats up one side of the debris to shift its orbit trajectory, altering the path to hit the atmosphere sooner. Space researchers have proposed that a laser broom may help mitigate Kessler syndrome, a runaway cascade of collision events between orbiting objects. Additionally, laser broom systems mounted on satellites or space station have also been proposed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kessler syndrome</span> Theoretical runaway satellite collision cascade that could render parts of Earth orbit unusable

The Kessler syndrome, proposed by NASA scientists Donald J. Kessler and Burton G. Cour-Palais in 1978, is a scenario in which the density of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) due to space pollution is numerous enough that collisions between objects could cause a cascade in which each collision generates space debris that increases the likelihood of further collisions. In 2009, Kessler wrote that modeling results had concluded that the debris environment was already unstable, "such that any attempt to achieve a growth-free small debris environment by eliminating sources of past debris will likely fail because fragments from future collisions will be generated faster than atmospheric drag will remove them". One implication is that the distribution of debris in orbit could render space activities and the use of satellites in specific orbital ranges difficult for many generations.

PROBA, renamed PROBA-1, is a Belgian satellite technology demonstration mission launched atop an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle by ISRO on 22 October 2001. The satellite was funded through the ESA's MicroSat and General Study Program with the objective of addressing issues regarding on-board operational autonomy of a generic satellite platform. This small boxlike system, with solar panel collectors on its surface, hosts two Earth Observation instruments dubbed CHRIS and HRC. CHRIS is a hyperspectral system that images at 17 m resolution, while HRC is a monochromatic camera that images visible light at 5 m resolution.

EchoStar VII is an American geostationary communications satellite which was operated by DISH Network, originally EchoStar. It was positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 119° West, from where it is used to provide high-definition television direct broadcasting services to the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress M1-5</span> Progress-M1 spacecraft launched in 2001 to autonomously deorbit the Mir space station

Progress M1-5 was the Progress spacecraft which was launched by Russia in 2001 to deorbit the fifteen-year-old Mir space station in a controlled fashion over a remote area of the southern Pacific Ocean otherwise Mir's orbit would have decayed uncontrolled over time, with debris potentially landing in a populated area. The Russian Aviation and Space Agency, Rosaviakosmos, was responsible for the mission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PROBA-3</span> European Space Agency mission

Proba-3 is a dual probe technological demonstration mission by the European Space Agency devoted to high precision formation flying to achieve scientific coronagraphy. It is part of the series of PROBA satellites that are being used to validate new spacecraft technologies and concepts while also carrying scientific instruments.

Deorbit of <i>Mir</i> Controlled atmospheric entry of Mir over the Pacific

The Russian space station Mir ended its mission on 23 March 2001, when it was brought out of its orbit, entered the atmosphere and was destroyed. Major components ranged from about 5 to 15 years in age, and included the Mir Core Module, Kvant-1, Kvant-2, Kristall, Spektr, Priroda, and Docking Module. Although Russia was optimistic about Mir's future, the country's commitments to the International Space Station programme left no funding to support Mir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SwissCube-1</span> Swiss satellite launched in 2009

SwissCube-1 is a Swiss satellite operated by École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). The spacecraft is a single unit CubeSat, which was designed to conduct research into nightglow within the Earth's atmosphere, and to develop technology for future spacecraft. It has also been used for amateur radio. It was the first Swiss satellite to be launched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PROBA-V</span> European Space Agencys PROBA series satellite

PROBA-V, or PROBA-Vegetation, is a satellite in the European Space Agency's PROBA series. It was launched in 2013 with a predicted usable lifetime between 2.5 and 5 years.

The Space Safety Programme, formerly the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme, is the European Space Agency's (ESA) initiative to monitor hazards from space, determine their risk, make this data available to the appropriate authorities and where possible, mitigate the threat.

e.Deorbit was a planned European Space Agency active space debris removal mission developed as a part of their Clean Space initiative. The launch was planned for 2025 on board a Vega launch vehicle. Funding of the mission was stopped in 2018 in favor of the ClearSpace-1 mission, which is now under development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel-1B</span> European radar imaging satellite

Sentinel-1B was a European radar imaging satellite launched on 25 April 2016. It is the second of two original satellites in the Sentinel-1 constellation, part of the European Union's Copernicus programme on Earth observation. The satellite carries a C-SAR sensor, capable of providing high-resolution imagery regardless of weather conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RemoveDEBRIS</span> Project to demonstrate various space debris removal technologies

RemoveDEBRIS was a satellite research project intending to demonstrate various space debris removal technologies. The mission was led by the Surrey Space Centre from the University of Surrey with the satellite's platform manufactured by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). Partners on the project included Airbus, ArianeGroup, Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology, Inria, Innovative Solutions In Space, Surrey Space Centre, and Stellenbosch University.

Astroscale Holdings Inc. is a public orbital debris removal company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company is developing satellite end-of-life and active debris removal services to mitigate the growing and hazardous buildup of debris in space.

ION Satellite Carrier is a satellite platform developed, manufactured, and operated by Italian company D-Orbit. The platform features a customizable 64U satellite dispenser capable of hosting a combination of CubeSats that fits the volume. Throughout a mission, ION Satellite Carrier can release the hosted satellites individually, changing orbital parameter between one deployment and the next. Each of the miniature CubeSats weighs a few kilograms.

Very low Earth orbit is a range of orbital altitudes below 400 km (250 mi), and is of increasing commercial importance in a variety of scenarios and for multiple applications, in both private and government satellite operations. Applications include earth observation, radar, infrared, weather, telecommunications, and rural internet access among others.

References

  1. ↑ McGlaun, Shane (27 November 2020). "ESA signs contract with ClearSpace to clean up space debris" . Retrieved 27 November 2020. ClearSpace SA will launch the first active debris removal mission known as ClearSpace-1
  2. ↑ Coxworth, Ben (7 July 2015). "EPFL's CleanSpace One satellite will "eat" space junk". Gizmag. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Volpe, Joseph (16 February 2012). "EPFL's CleanSpace One: clearing up cosmic clutter (video)". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  4. ↑ ESA commissions world’s first space debris removal
  5. 1 2 Werner, Debra (24 April 2024). "Major changes approved for ClearSpace-1 mission". SpaceNews . Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "Call for Media: ESA and ClearSpace SA sign contract for world's first debris removal mission". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  7. ↑ Rainbow, Jason (9 May 2023). "ClearSpace books Vega C for 2026 de-orbit mission". SpaceNews . Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Europe plans space claw to capture orbiting junk". www.science.org. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  9. ↑ "European Space Agency is sending a giant claw into orbit to clean up space junk". CNET. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  10. ↑ Foust, Jeff (22 August 2023). "Target of European debris removal mission hit by other debris". SpaceNews . Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Roulette, Joey (2023-03-03). "As space junk threat grows, government and investors seek solutions". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  12. ↑ Tereza, Pultarova (2022-05-06). "Astroscale space junk removal satellite nearly catches target in orbital test". Space.com. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  13. ↑ Stoehr, Alyssa (2023-06-17). "Statement on ELSA-d De-Orbit Plan". Astroscale. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  14. ↑ Sindreu, Jon (11 November 2022). "The Difficult Search for Dangerous Space Junk". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.