The three sets of projects to receive its backing address the issue of sustainable space operations and the problems caused by defunct and colliding satellites in orbit.
Junk
First, the space firms Astroscale and ClearSpace have been awarded UK Space Agency funding to research a UK led mission to remove junk from space.
Specifically, in a feasibility study, the UK subsidiary of Astroscale – which is based in Harwell and specialises in satellite servicing – will explore technology to remove multiple retired satellites in a single mission. This new national project could build on other Astroscale missions such as ELSA-M and ELSA-d, said the agency. The amount of funding wasn’t specified.
The ClearSpace UK team, for its part, will study the feasibility of the first mission dedicated to removing decommissioned satellites as well as a sizable piece of debris that has been in orbit for many years.
Space surveillance
Second, the UKSA will partner with Numerica Corporation. The US-based company will provide space surveillance and tracking (SST) data from a worldwide network of optical telescopes and software systems to help keep UK satellites operating safely .
Space sustainability
Finally, there will also be a collaboration between the UKSA and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to “support international efforts to promote space sustainability”. The UK agency funding “will support a collaborative effort to advance global awareness on space sustainability and how best to implement the UN Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (LTS Guidelines),” it says.
“Growing reliance on satellites for a range of everyday utilities from SatNav to meteorology is making the space tech sector increasingly valuable to the UK economy,” said UK Science Minister George Freeman. “Our National Space Strategy sets out our vision for a thriving UK space sector that pushes the boundaries of innovation including a specific commitment to lead in clearing space debris.”
“These new projects will support our leading role in cleaning up our orbit, which has been neglected for far too long, and will help keep satellites operating safely so they can continue to provide vital services such as communications and climate change monitoring.”
The UKSA announcement was made during the 72nd International Astronautical Congress in Dubai.
Image: ESA – Artist’s rendering of orbital debris
See also: Kessler Syndrome and the (growing) problem of Space Debris