A UK space company is helping with the design of a satellite that removes debris from space. 

Named as ‘The Claw’, the Clearspace-1 satellite will grab space junk by performing a pincer-like motion according to an article on gov.uk. It then shoots the debris safely back into the Earth’s atmosphere, allowing it to disintegrate.  

Deimos Space UK, who are a subsidiary of Elecnor Deimos, are based in Oxfordshire and are playing a key role in this mission. Their role is to design the Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS). This is a system that helps Clearspace-1 to place itself in the appropriate position to capture the space junk with the aid of thrusters and antennas. 

“There are millions of hazardous pieces of space junk orbiting the Earth – if a single one collides with a satellite it could interfere with vital everyday services that we all rely on like broadband or GPS”, said Amanda Solloway, who is the Science Minister for the UK Government.

“The first ever interstellar clean-up mission, driven by ground-breaking British scientists and researchers, is just another example of how the UK’s space sector is out of this world.”

The mission is scheduled to begin in 2025.