ClearSpace-1

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Technology

Low Earth Orbit Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV) Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

First debris removal mission by the Swiss startup ClearSpace. Contracted by the European Space Agency, it is designed to catch and de-orbit part of a Vega rocket from Low Earth Orbit using four articulated arms.

Updates

Vega-C

Family:
Configuration:

Vega-C is a single-body rocket nearly 35 m high with that weighs 210 tonnes on the launch pad. As with Vega, its main elements are three solid-propellant stages, an upper stage powered by a reignitable liquid-propellant engine and a payload fairing. Vega-C's P120C first stage replaces Vega’s smaller P80 to provide a significant increase in thrust at liftoff. It is also used as boosters (2 or 4) for the Ariane 6 rocket.

See Details
Specifications
  • Stages
    4
  • Length
    35.0 m
  • Diameter
    3.0 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    3.3 m
  • Launch Mass
    210.0 T
  • Thrust
    2974.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Vega-C
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Vega-C
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $48000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    3300.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    2300.0 kg

Avio S.p.A

Avio S.p.A

(Avio)

CEO: Giulio Ranzo Founded: 1908 Successes: 0 Failures: 0 Pending: 3

Agency Type:

Avio S.p.A. is an Italian company operating in the aerospace sector with its head office in Colleferro near Rome, Italy. Founded in 1908, it is present in Italy and abroad with different commercial offices and 10 production sites.

INFO WIKI

Related News

SpaceNews

Major changes approved for ClearSpace-1 mission

Under the new plan approved by ESA’s Space Safety Programme Board, OHB SE of Bremen, Germany, will provide the satellite bus and lead systems integration and launch.

European Spaceflight

ClearSpace Debris Removal Mission Passes Key Milestones

A space debris removal mission being developed by Swiss startup ClearSpace has passed a pair of milestones as part of its environmental test campaign. ClearSpace-1 is an active debris removal mission that aims to capture and deorbit a Vega…

SpaceNews

Target of European debris removal mission hit by other debris

A payload adapter that is the target of a European debris cleanup mission may have itself been damaged by a debris impact.

SpaceNews

ClearSpace books Vega C for 2026 de-orbit mission

ClearSpace has signed a contract with Arianespace to launch its first debris de-orbit mission on Europe’s Vega C rocket in the second half 2026, the Swiss startup announced May 9.

The Launch Pad

ClearSpace Passes First ESA Review Ahead Of First Mission

ClearSpace has begun the procurement of spacecraft components for its 2026 debris de-orbit mission, after confirming its first major program review.

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