# Remove two dead satellites from orbit by 2032

> “Government backs new spacecraft with more than £60m to remove two defunct satellites from orbit by 2032.”
>
> — HM Government; Press release (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade), 15 October 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Transport & economy](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/transport-and-economy)
- **Speaker:** [HM Government](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/hm-government)
- **Made on:** 15 October 2026
- **Where:** Press release (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
- **Deadline:** 31 December 2032
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** The services that depend on satellites, such as GPS, weather forecasts and communications
- **When:** Launch in 2029; both satellites removed by 2032
- **Paid for by:** More than £60 million from the government
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-first-mission-puts-uk-expertise-to-work-to-help-clean-up-space (checked word for word at its source on 18 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 19 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-space-debris-removal-2032

## Where it stands

The UK Active Debris Removal mission is run by the UK Space Agency with ClearSpace UK as its industry delivery partner. The spacecraft is to launch in 2029 from Saxavord Spaceport in Scotland and release the two satellites lower into the atmosphere, where they burn up. The release does not name the satellites; 2032 is read as the end of 2032. The card moves when the spacecraft launches.

## Timeline

- 15 October 2026, Promised: The government backs a spacecraft with more than £60 million to remove two defunct satellites from orbit by 2032
- 31 December 2032, Deadline (to come): Two defunct satellites due to be removed from orbit by 2032

## About the cost

More than £60 million, with no period given, so no yearly figure is shown.

## Sources

- [Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade press release, 15 Oct 2026: World-first mission puts UK expertise to work to help clean up space](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-first-mission-puts-uk-expertise-to-work-to-help-clean-up-space)

## Checks

- Verified by Pavel Guzhikov, checked by AI Journalist; approved on 19 October 2026.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 18 October 2026.

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