https://spacewatch.global/tag/clearspace/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:34:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/clearspace/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/clearspace-and-esa-announce-prelude-in-orbit-servicing-ios-core-technology-demonstration-mission/ Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70388 ClearSpace and the ESA have announced their collaboration on a new PRELUDE in-orbit servicing and active debris removal mission. The mission intends to demonstrate core new In-Orbit Servicing (IOS) technologies, setting the stage for a new era of safe and sustainable space operations such as Life Extension. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/08/spacewatchgl-opinion-who-are-europes-next-space-unicorns-meet-10-companies-building-europes-space-future/ Mon, 25 Aug 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67291
Written by Ieva Sipola
As global space policy shifts, Europe faces a unique opportunity to build its own future in space. This moment has become a catalyst for the continent's most ambitious scale-ups and aspiring unicorns, who are ready to shape a more independent and resilient space sector. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/08/clearspace-welcomes-uk-governments-publication-of-stage-1-rpo-sandbox-report/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 06:00:03 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67260 ClearSpace has welcomed the Stage 1 Independent Public Report on the Regulatory Sandbox for RPO. The report highlights ClearSpace’s joint leadership, alongside Astroscale and D-Orbit, in delivering the first stage of this innovative regulatory tool designed to advance UK space policy and practice.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/05/clearspace-completes-phase-2-of-mission-clear-strengthening-uk-in-orbit-services/ Thu, 08 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65191 ClearSpace has successfully completed Phase 2 of the 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 in space sustainability and in-orbit servicing.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/02/clearspace-begins-geo-life-extension-mission-consolidation/ Fri, 21 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64081 ClearSpace has initiated the consolidation phase of its new GEO Life Extension Mission, with support from the Government of Luxembourg through an ESA Contract in the Luxembourg National Space Programme, LuxIMPULSE.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/12/uk-companies-form-consortium-towards-national-rpo-capabilities/ Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=63048 ClearSpace, Astroscale and D-Orbit have jointly secured GBP 691,000 from the UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) for a Regulatory Sandbox project to test innovative Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) missions. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/04/clearspace-1-mission-changes-in-response-to-debris-collision/ Thu, 25 Apr 2024 06:00:16 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=54863 The ClearSpace-1 debris removal mission has undergone a transformative period to achieve a faster execution pace and reviewed mission objectives. After the successful completion of its mission’s first phase, the detection of space debris objects in the vicinity of the mission’s client object, which indicates a collision of the target with untraceable debris, and the need for a change towards a more expedited and cost-effective approach prompted a pivot in the next stage of the ClearSpace-1 mission.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/04/clear-debris-removal-mission-reaches-pdr-maturity/ Mon, 22 Apr 2024 06:00:27 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=54796 ClearSpace has announced that its CLEAR Mission – funded as part of the UK Space Agency’s national debris removal program – has achieved Preliminary Design Review (PDR) maturity, marking a significant advancement in the collective aim of making our space operations more sustainable. The CLEAR Mission will use ClearSpace’s robotic capture system to safely remove two dead, washing-machine-sized, UK satellites from orbit, mitigating the risk that these pieces of space debris pose to other space operations.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/02/clearspace-wins-uksa-in-orbit-satellite-refueling-contract/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 07:00:50 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=53738 ClearSpace has secured a contract with the UK Space Agency (UKSA) to investigate the feasibility of an in-orbit satellite refuelling mission, an exciting new market for in-orbit services. The REFUEL.ME study, which will run until September 2024, will involve the establishment of the key mission requirements and the definition of the mission concept of operations, leading to an initial design of the servicer satellite and a review of the sizeable market potential.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/01/clearspace-and-orbit-fab-partner-for-in-space-refueling-service/ Fri, 26 Jan 2024 07:00:15 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=53371 ClearSpace and Orbit Fab have announced a multi-faceted strategic partnership to advance in-space refuelling and servicing capabilities that aim to revolutionize space operations and serve as a foundation for a vibrant and sustainable space economy. Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Orbit Fab and ClearSpace will develop key enabling technologies, building on their initial collaborative work that began several years ago]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/08/vespa-payload-adapter-appears-to-have-been-hit-in-orbit/ Thu, 24 Aug 2023 06:00:02 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50695 The European Space Agency (ESA) has received information from the United States 18th Space Defense Squadron that it has detected new objects in the vicinity of the VESPA payload adapter. This adapter has remained in orbit following the 2013 launch of a Vega rocket from ESA’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Furthermore, it is a 113 kg, two-meter-diameter, conical upper portion of a payload adapter associated with the VV02 Vega launch that delivered the Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1 satellites into Earth orbit.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/07/space-cafe-radio-secure-world-foundation-ep-01-tim-maclay/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 08:00:42 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50268 In this Space Café Radio -  SpaceWatch.Global's Dr. Emma Gatti spoke with Tim Maclay, the chief strategy officer and US general manager at ClearSpace, an in-orbiting service and space debris company founded in 2018. Today's episode is in partnership with the Secure World Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on the long-term sustainability of outer space and earth orbits, as well as space security and stability considerations.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/07/esa-moves-ahead-with-in-orbit-servicing-missions/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 06:00:45 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50136 ESA has conducted extensive work on In-Orbit Servicing (IOS), including as part of its Clean Space initiative for the removal and prevention of space debris. ESA Preparation invited industry partners to outline their vision of Europe’s first IOS mission, which could be launched as early as 2028. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/06/frederic-c-baker-joins-unio-as-cto/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 06:00:32 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=49392 Frederic C. Baker will join the European space start-up UNIO after his appointment as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). As a result, He will lead the architecture build-out of the Company's ground-breaking commercial satellite constellation focused on enabling new services and products in the automotive and broader mobility sector.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/06/clearspace-reaches-milestone-in-uk-debris-removal-mission/ Tue, 13 Jun 2023 06:00:43 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=49379 ClearSpace has announced that it has successfully concluded a significant milestone in the CLEAR Mission. The Company concluded the System Requirements Review, marking a pivotal phase in the satellite development process.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/05/clearspace-to-launch-the-first-active-debris-removal-mission-with-arianespace/ Wed, 10 May 2023 06:00:50 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=48582 ClearSpace and Arianespace signed a launch contract for ClearSpace-1, the first active debris removal mission that will capture and deorbit a derelict space debris object of more than 100kg. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/04/clearspace-announces-clearspace-today-as-us-subsidiary/ Tue, 18 Apr 2023 06:00:51 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=48055 ClearSpace has announced the establishment of its US subsidiary, ClearSpace Today, Inc., which represents its first expansion beyond Europe, bringing its core technologies to the world’s largest space economy.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/04/clearspace-and-leolabs-partner-for-safer-space-environment/ Mon, 03 Apr 2023 06:00:12 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=47783 ClearSpace and LeoLabs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding recognizing their shared vision for a safe and sustainable space ecosystem and their mutual efforts in making this vision a reality.  The partnership signals a desire to build on this mutual success and previous collaborative efforts, such as the joint LEO Kinetic Space Safety Workshop in May 2022. The MOU also serves as a formal declaration of ClearSpace and LeoLabs’ intent to work together on several new initiatives.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/02/clearspace-passes-esa-first-program-review-for-debris-removal/ Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:00:40 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=46781 ClearSpace and its industrial partners have passed their first major program review with the European Space Agency (ESA) for its mission to remove a large debris object from Earth orbit. With this milestone, ClearSpace has shown the ability to meet the technology requirements this mission demands]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/10/esa-director-general-appoints-the-new-space-advisory-board/ Wed, 05 Oct 2022 06:00:51 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=43738 The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Director General, Josef Aschbacher, appointed the New Space Advisory Board (NAB) to implement the actions of the Agenda 2025 with a particular focus on commercialisation and ESA’s role and actions in the New Space ecosystem, ESA said. ]]>