RemoveDEBRIS

RemoveDEBRIS is a technology demonstration mission aimed at validating active debris-removal concepts in Earth orbit. Initiated by the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, the project seeks to provide practical verification for methods to reduce the orbital debris population and to improve the safety and sustainability of space activities.

The spacecraft carried a suite of experimental hardware and software designed to test several debris-removal approaches. These included a net-based capture system intended to ensnare a target object, a harpoon-based capture mechanism, a drag sail designed to increase atmospheric drag and hasten reentry, and a vision-based navigation and tracking system to locate, approach, and record interactions with a target satellite. The development involved collaboration with industry partners and academic researchers and was funded by the UK Space Agency and other supporting organizations.

Launched in 2018 and operated in low Earth orbit, RemoveDEBRIS conducted a series of demonstrations to simulate debris-removal scenarios. The mission's tests explored the practicalities of approaching a target, attaching a capture device, and triggering deorbiting via a drag sail, as well as validating autonomous or semi-autonomous control using stereo cameras and light detection and ranging sensors.

Results from RemoveDEBRIS contributed to the understanding of active debris-removal technologies and informed the design of future missions and policy discussions on space debris mitigation. The program is often cited as a milestone in the development of operational debris-removal concepts.