European Space Agency to launch space debris collector in 2025

Robotic junk collector will be first mission to remove item of debris from orbit

A four-armed robotic junk collector will be launched into space by the European Space Agency in what it says will be the first mission to remove an item of debris from orbit.

The ClearSpace-1 mission, scheduled for launch in 2025, will cost a120m and will grab a single piece of junk. But the agency hopes the mission will pave the way for a wide-reaching clear-up operation, with Esa's director general calling for new rules that would compel those who launch satellites to take responsibility for removing them from orbit once they are retired from use.