A total of £2 million is available for feasibility studies that
can demonstrate the ability to refuel a UK national debris
removal mission and look at opportunities for refuelling a
commercial satellite as well.
Daily life relies on space services– from navigation and weather
forecasting to financial services and TV. It is therefore
essential that we preserve the space environment for future
generations as we do here on Earth.
Millions of defunct space objects are currently orbiting the
planet – almost 37,000 measuring larger than 10cm and an
estimated 130 million measuring less than 1 cm. These can
be anything from old satellites to astronaut tools and even
flecks of paint. The speed at which they travel means they
are a constant threat to ‘live’ satellites.
As part of a package of initiatives to help ensure the long-term
sustainability of the outer space environment, the UK Space
Agency is leading work to develop UK capabilities in this area
and demonstrate leadership in more sustainable space
operations.
One such initiative is a UK national debris removal mission,
planned for launch in 2026 and designed to be
refuellable.
As satellite launch costs continue to fall and new technologies –
such as highly manoeuvrable satellites that can dock with others
and perform tasks like refuelling – come online, the UK Space
Agency is inviting bids from UK organisations to develop
feasibility studies to support the mission and the development of
future capabilities.
, Minister of State at the
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said:
Millions of pieces of space debris and 3,000 redundant satellites
pose an increasing threat to the satellite economy we now rely on
daily – from telecomms to navigation, air traffic control and
climate science. So it is vital that we act.
> This new £2 million UK Space Agency programme will
help to develop ways to refuel inactive satellites in space. UK
businesses like Astroscale and ClearSpace developing in-flight
refuelling, maintenance and other satellite servicing are key to
reducing space debris, boosting space resilience and ensuring a
vibrant space service economy.”
Ray Fielding, Head of Sustainability at the UK Space Agency,
said:
This is an exciting opportunity for the UK space sector.
In-orbit servicing is expected to be a key tool in ensuring the
long-term sustainability of the outer space environment, so these
refuelling studies will support our desire to make satellite
operation a lot more sustainable and demonstrate UK leadership in
tackling the increasing risks caused by space debris”.
Richard Lowe, co-Chair of UKspace In-orbit Service &
Manufacture (IOSM) Working Group, said:
Satellites provide huge economic benefit for people here on Earth
– but they’re currently limited to one tank of fuel! In-orbit
refuelling is a key technology that can extend the life of
satellites. It can also enable development of more capable
infrastructure in space and help us to reduce in-orbit debris.
This investment paves the way for space services that deliver
even more value than today in a much more sustainable way.”
See further details on the
refuelling study call.
The announcement comes ahead of the UK Space Conference (21-23
November at ICC Belfast) – a global platform for government,
industry and academic space innovators to gather and
collaboratively shape the future of space.
