Strathclyde space scientists to develop systems to remove satellites from orbit

Technology to remove satellites from space – and prevent the further build up of man-made space debris - is being investigated by researchers at Strathclyde University.

The team has been awarded some €116,700 of EU funding as part of the two-year TeSeR (Technology for Self-Removal of Spacecraft) programme that is being led by Airbus Defence and Space.

According to NASA, over 500,000 pieces of space debris - made up of items including non-functioning spacecraft and abandoned launch vehicle stages - are currently being tracked as they orbit Earth at speeds of up to 17,500mph.

With a total of €2.8m in funding from the Horizon 2020 programme, TeSeR will carry out initial research for the development of a prototype of a cost-efficient but highly reliable removal module.

Dr Malcolm Macdonald, director of the Strathclyde-based Scottish Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications explained via email that parts of large spacecraft can survive re-entry and need to be de-orbited more carefully than small satellites that burn up in the atmosphere.