#Europe signs $102M deal to bring space trash home
![](https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/hires/2020/spacetrash.jpg)
“#Europe signs $102M deal to bring space trash home”
![Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain space trash](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800/2020/spacetrash.jpg)
The European Space Agency says it is signing a 86 million-euro ($102 million) contract with a Swiss start-up company to bring a large piece of orbital trash back to Earth.
The agency said Thursday that the deal with ClearSpace SA will lead to the “first active debris removal mission” in 2025, in which a custom-made spacecraft will capture and bring down part of a rocket once used to deliver a satellite into orbit.
Experts have long warned that hundreds of thousands of pieces of space debris circling the planet—including an astronaut’s lost mirror—pose a threat to functioning satellites and even the International Space Station. Several teams are working on ways to tackle the problem.
The object being removed from orbit is a so-called Vespa payload adapter that was used to hold and then release a satellite in 2013. It weighs about 112 kilograms (247 pounds).
Deep-learning algorithms helping to clear space junk from our skies
© 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Citation:
Europe signs $102M deal to bring space trash home (2020, November 26)
retrieved 26 November 2020
from https://phys.org/news/2020-11-europe-102m-space-trash-home.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Google News too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.
For forums sites go to Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com
If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our Science category.