Group photo of the ClearSpace Team with UK Space Agency and Phase 2 partners
during Phase 2 Final Review Meeting. Photo: ClearSpaceClearSpace has successfully completed Phase 2 of its CLEAR mission, marking a key milestone in the UK’s first Active Debris Removal (ADR) mission. This phase has de-risked key technologies and reinforced the UK’s position as a leader in space sustainability and in-orbit servicing.
Rory Holmes, UK managing director at ClearSpace, said: “Achieving this milestone is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation of our team and partners. The CLEAR mission is more than just a debris removal project — it is a stepping stone towards a fully operational UK-led in-orbit servicing capability. By demonstrating the capability to design, build, test, license, launch, and operate this mission from the UK, we are proving that the UK has what it takes to lead in space sustainability.”
During this phase, ClearSpace has achieved major technological milestones that bring the mission closer to reality. The spacecraft’s robotic capture system has successfully passed mechanical derisking tests, proving it can withstand the harsh launch loads. In parallel, ClearSpace-developed image processing algorithms have been tested in a realistic environment, ensuring the system can accurately detect and track space debris.
Pictured right: artistic impression of a debris capture in-orbitAdditionally, some of the mission’s close-proximity phases have been tested using a hardware-based spacecraft emulator, validating key operational sequences. Alongside these technical achievements, ClearSpace has also completed detailed programmatic estimates, providing the UK Space Agency with key insights to inform mission planning.
Ray Fielding, the UK Space Agency’s head of sustainability, said: “This is a significant milestone in our national ADR programme, and we are delighted that ClearSpace and partners have successfully delivered all requirements in this derisking-focused phase of work. We are now entering a particularly exciting period of further innovation which further supports our prioritisation of space sustainability and development of a national ISAM capability.”
The collaboration between ClearSpace and its partners has been essential in reaching this milestone. Notably, the company has worked closely with industry leaders
Critical Software,
Indra-Deimos,
Plextek and
Spirit AeroSystems. These partnerships not only support the mission’s success but also contribute to job creation and economic growth within the UK.
ClearSpace has been growing its presence in London, contributing to the expansion of the UK’s space sector. Over the past three years, ClearSpace in the UK has built a strong team, created local job opportunities, and formed valuable connections with the space community. The company is also part of the RPO Sandbox consortium, which successfully completed its first phase this March. This initiative is driving innovation in rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) regulation, a vital component for future In Orbit Servicing missions.
With the successful completion of Phase 2, the UK Space Agency recently hosted an engagement event to outline the next steps for the national UK ADR mission. ClearSpace and its partners remain committed to pioneering solutions that promote space sustainability and drive long-term economic growth for the UK space sector.