Astro-net snares space debris in world’s first experiment to clean up the cosmos

A groundbreaking experiment to capture space debris before it can damage satellites and spacecraft has succeeded in netting its target.

RemoteDebris, the world’s most advanced litter-picker, was launched in April and has been docked at the International Space Station (ISS) ahead of testing.

The spacecraft, which was devised by Surrey University and built by Airbus, is designed to grab space junk - either with a net or harpoon -  then pull it into Earth’s atmosphere where it is burned up.

Footage released yesterday from a camera on the spacecraft showed that the net has been successfully deployed to capture a small ‘cubesat’ satellite. Harpoon testing is due take place in late January.

In the final stage of the experiment, which will happen next March, the spacecraft will deploy a large dragsail to allow it to fall out of orbit, where it will burn up as it enters Earth’s atmosphere dragging the rubbish with it.

The mission, which is funded by the European Commission, is the first concrete attempt to clean up space junk currently orbiting Earth.

Professor Guglielmo Aglietti, Director of the Surrey Space Centre, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the outcome of the net technology.

“While it might sound like a simple idea, the complexity of using a net in space to capture a piece of debris took many years of planning, engineering and coordination between the Surrey Space Centre, Airbus and our partners – but there is more work to be done.

“These are very exciting times for us all.”

It is estimated that there are more than 7,600 tonnes of space junk in and around Earth’s orbit - with some moving faster than a speeding bullet which are a huge threat to satellites and space stations.

In 2016 a small piece of debris chipped a window on the ISS.

Since 1957, more than 5250 launches have led to tens of thousands of objects orbiting the Earth.

But only about 1,200 are working satellites, the rest are debris and are no longer serving any useful purpose.

To make the problem more urgent, many derelict craft have exploded or broken up, generating an estimated 750,000 pieces larger than 1 cm and a staggering 166 million larger than 1 mm.

Ingo Retat, Airbus RemoveDebris project head, said: “To develop this net technology to capture space debris we spent six years testing in parabolic flights, in special drop towers and also thermal vacuum chambers.  

“Our small team of engineers and technicians have done an amazing job moving us one step closer to clearing up low Earth orbit.”

Next month the spacecraft will also test more of its on board technology, including a vison-based navigation system that uses Lidar technology to analayse potential piece sof debris.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is currently developing a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme to monitor the debris and has called on the world’s space agencies to try to keep Earth’s orbital environment as clean as possible.