UK on a mission to clean up space junk

Fears over 140 million pieces of debris orbiting Earth

- By Elizabeth Hunter

A SPACESHIP designed to clear up space debris is to be built in a £75.6million bid to tackle the growing threat of man-made clutter in orbit.

The UK Space Agency is initiating a tender for the nation's first mission to actively remove defunct satellites from space.

They say it marks a pivotal step in our efforts to protect vital space infrastructure and ensure the long-term safety of the orbital environment.

Robotic

At the heart of the proposed Active Debris Removal mission will be a spacecraft equipped with British robotic and autonomous navigation technology.