Inside Italian defence tech (2026)
3d ago
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Renens, Switzerland
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
London, United Kingdom
Ottobrunn, GermanyRenens, SwitzerlandLuxembourg City, LuxembourgLondon, United KingdomOttobrunn, Germany
Products & Solutions
ClearSpace-1
ESA-contracted mission to capture and deorbit the defunct PROBA-1 satellite using four robotic arms, targeting launch in the second half of 2026. It will be the first removal of an unprepared, non-cooperative space object from orbit, demonstrating the core technologies needed for recurring debris removal services.
PRELUDE
A two-spacecraft demonstration mission being developed with ESA's Space Safety Programme, targeting launch in 2027. The two craft will carry out complex autonomous rendezvous and proximity manoeuvres in real orbit, validating the navigation and sensor systems that underpin future inspection and debris removal operations at scale.
CLEAR
The UK's first Active Debris Removal mission, funded by the UK Space Agency, targeting the removal of two derelict UK-registered satellites from low Earth orbit above 700 km altitude. ClearSpace completed Phase 2 in May 2025, demonstrating key capture technologies and de-risking the mission ahead of the operational phase.
Phoenix
A geostationary life extension programme, developed under a Luxembourg National Space Programme contract with ESA support, that aims to dock with ageing GEO satellites and extend their operational life between 2028 and 2030. The mission entered its consolidation phase in early 2025 and represents ClearSpace's expansion beyond debris removal into commercial satellite servicing.
Videos
ClearSpace – Why We Do What We Do
ClearSpace, your roadside assistant to your space assets
About
ClearSpace was founded in 2018 in Switzerland, growing out of research at EPFL, and is now headquartered in Luxembourg with offices in Switzerland, the UK and Germany. The company designs and operates spacecraft for in-orbit servicing across three service lines: satellite inspection, life extension for operational satellites and active debris removal. It was the first company selected by ESA to lead a commercial debris removal mission.
Offices
Renens, SwitzerlandLuxembourg City, LuxembourgLondon, United KingdomOttobrunn, GermanyBacked by
OTB VenturesSwisscom VenturesLakestarIn-Q-TelLuxembourg Future FundHappiness Capital600 T Space Investments
Customers & Partners
European Space Agency (ESA)UK Space AgencyLuxembourg Space AgencyOHB SECSEMArianespaceLeoLabsOrbit FabAstroscaleD-OrbitOMEGAIntelsat
Timeline
2026-01
Announced the PRELUDE mission with ESA, a two-spacecraft proximity operations demonstration targeting a 2027 launch.
2025-05
Completed Phase 2 of the CLEAR mission for the UK Space Agency, demonstrating key capture technologies for multi-object debris removal.
2024-04
Redesigned the ClearSpace-1 mission after its original target was struck by debris, pivoting to deorbit ESA's PROBA-1 satellite under OHB SE's industrial leadership.
2023-01
Closed a €26.7 million Series A led by OTB Ventures and Swisscom Ventures, establishing an operational base in Luxembourg.
2020
Signed an €86 million contract with ESA for ClearSpace-1, the first commercial active debris removal mission.
2018
Founded in Switzerland, growing out of research at EPFL, with a focus on in-orbit servicing and space debris removal.
Open Positions (0)
No positions available
ClearSpace doesn't have any open positions at the moment.
Products & Solutions
ClearSpace-1
ESA-contracted mission to capture and deorbit the defunct PROBA-1 satellite using four robotic arms, targeting launch in the second half of 2026. It will be the first removal of an unprepared, non-cooperative space object from orbit, demonstrating the core technologies needed for recurring debris removal services.
PRELUDE
A two-spacecraft demonstration mission being developed with ESA's Space Safety Programme, targeting launch in 2027. The two craft will carry out complex autonomous rendezvous and proximity manoeuvres in real orbit, validating the navigation and sensor systems that underpin future inspection and debris removal operations at scale.
CLEAR
The UK's first Active Debris Removal mission, funded by the UK Space Agency, targeting the removal of two derelict UK-registered satellites from low Earth orbit above 700 km altitude. ClearSpace completed Phase 2 in May 2025, demonstrating key capture technologies and de-risking the mission ahead of the operational phase.
Phoenix
A geostationary life extension programme, developed under a Luxembourg National Space Programme contract with ESA support, that aims to dock with ageing GEO satellites and extend their operational life between 2028 and 2030. The mission entered its consolidation phase in early 2025 and represents ClearSpace's expansion beyond debris removal into commercial satellite servicing.
Videos
ClearSpace – Why We Do What We Do
ClearSpace, your roadside assistant to your space assets
Open Positions (0)
No positions available
ClearSpace doesn't have any open positions at the moment.
About
ClearSpace was founded in 2018 in Switzerland, growing out of research at EPFL, and is now headquartered in Luxembourg with offices in Switzerland, the UK and Germany. The company designs and operates spacecraft for in-orbit servicing across three service lines: satellite inspection, life extension for operational satellites and active debris removal. It was the first company selected by ESA to lead a commercial debris removal mission.
Offices
Renens, SwitzerlandLuxembourg City, LuxembourgLondon, United KingdomOttobrunn, GermanyBacked by
OTB VenturesSwisscom VenturesLakestarIn-Q-TelLuxembourg Future FundHappiness Capital600 T Space Investments
Customers & Partners
European Space Agency (ESA)UK Space AgencyLuxembourg Space AgencyOHB SECSEMArianespaceLeoLabsOrbit FabAstroscaleD-OrbitOMEGAIntelsat
Timeline
2026-01
Announced the PRELUDE mission with ESA, a two-spacecraft proximity operations demonstration targeting a 2027 launch.
2025-05
Completed Phase 2 of the CLEAR mission for the UK Space Agency, demonstrating key capture technologies for multi-object debris removal.
2024-04
Redesigned the ClearSpace-1 mission after its original target was struck by debris, pivoting to deorbit ESA's PROBA-1 satellite under OHB SE's industrial leadership.
2023-01
Closed a €26.7 million Series A led by OTB Ventures and Swisscom Ventures, establishing an operational base in Luxembourg.
2020
Signed an €86 million contract with ESA for ClearSpace-1, the first commercial active debris removal mission.
2018
Founded in Switzerland, growing out of research at EPFL, with a focus on in-orbit servicing and space debris removal.
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