ClearSpace

ClearSpace is an in-orbit servicing company founded in Switzerland in 2018 and headquartered in Luxembourg. It builds space missions for satellite inspection, life extension and safe disposal of debris. Its goal is a circular space economy where maintenance and services are available in orbit.

Inspection uses a manoeuvrable spacecraft that flies skin-close to a customer's satellite. It gives precise characterisation, ownership attribution and protection, with in-orbit imaging for quick decisions. Life extension keeps a satellite working longer without replacing it. It is built for real conditions where a cooperative mission can quickly become non-cooperative, and it works beyond standard GEO. Safe disposal ranges from controlled re-entry to targeted removal. This reduces collision risks, protects orbital slots and supports compliance with Clean Space policies.

ClearSpace says its approach brings up to 75 percent propellant savings through optimised capture and removal. It also reports high technical readiness, proven through ESA missions.

ClearSpace-1 is Europe's first active debris removal mission, commissioned by the European Space Agency. It aims to remove the PROBA-1 satellite from orbit, with a launch date of 2028. Phoenix is a life-extension mission for satellites in GEO. In September 2026 ClearSpace signed an ESA contract to advance it, and in October 2026 it signed a term sheet with Eutelsat. PRELUDE is a mission with ESA that tests guidance, navigation and control and rendezvous and proximity operations ahead of a 2027 launch.

In the UK, the UK Space Agency chose ClearSpace in October 2026 as prime contractor for the UK's first national active debris removal mission. It will remove two UK-registered satellites. The CLEAR mission team works with Critical Software, Indra-Deimos, Plextek and Spirit AeroSystems.

The company has offices in Switzerland, the UK, Germany, Luxembourg and France. It holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, announced in 2023. Other milestones include ESA choosing it in 2019 to lead the first debris removal mission, collaboration with Intelsat in 2022, partnerships with LeoLabs and Orbit Fab in 2023, and funding rounds closed in 2023 and 2024.

Services

• Satellite inspection
• Life extension
• Safe disposal
• Active debris removal
• Controlled re-entry
• In-orbit servicing missions