RemoveDEBRIS makes its first successful in-orbit catch

On Sunday 16 September, a RemoveDEBRIS microsatellite captured a deployed target, meant to simulate space debris, using a sophisticated net. 

Project coordinator Guglielmo Aglietti, proud of the achievement of his consortium, is "absolutely delighted with the outcome of the net technology. While it might sound like a simple idea, the complexity of using a net in space to capture a piece of debris took many years of planning, engineering and coordination."

Behind this first successful experiment a significant number of challenges were overcome in the design, manufacturing, integration, launch, and in-orbit commissioning phases.

In the coming months RemoveDEBRIS will continue testing debris removal technologies such as:

• A space navigation system that uses cameras to observe and analyse potential pieces of debris;
• Harpoon capture technology to be used in orbit; and
• A drag-sail that will bring RemoveDEBRIS into the Earth’s atmosphere where it will be destroyed. 

RemoveDEBRIS is an FP7 project managed by REA. Claiming a "low cost debris removal mission". The project has been particularly successful in meeting its goals with a relatively low budget compared to standard space missions (7 million Euro EU contribution out of a total 15 million Euro budget).