Two dead British satellites are coming down — a £61 million (about $81 million) mission will grab them out of orbit

Orbit is getting crowded, and every piece of junk up there is moving fast enough to wreck a working satellite — one collision can smash into still more debris. The European Space Agency counts 35,000 to 50,000 pieces larger than 10 cm (4 in), including up to 3,500 dead satellites. Now Britain is cleaning up its own corner: the UK Space Agency has awarded ClearSpace UK a £61 million (about $81 million) contract to build two robot spacecraft that, between 2029 and 2032, will fly up to two defunct British satellites, find them with computer vision, grab them with robotic arms, and push them down to burn up safely in the atmosphere. The spacecraft will launch from SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands and are designed to be reused for future servicing missions. Space Minister Liz Lloyd said the mission will protect the satellites modern life runs on — from weather forecasts to staying connected with loved ones.

SDG 9 · Industry, innovation and infrastructure — Mechanism: institutional program