Serving police constable convicted following trial

• Britain plans to launch a spacecraft in 2029 to capture and remove two dead satellites.
• Space debris travelling at more than 17,000mph can damage satellites supporting GPS, weather forecasts and communications.
• The £61 million mission could help British companies develop technology for a growing satellite servicing industry.

Britain is preparing to tackle the growing problem of space junk with a robotic spacecraft designed to capture and remove two dead satellites, in a mission aimed at protecting the technology behind GPS, weather forecasts and communications.

The UK's Active Debris Removal (UK ADR) mission is scheduled to launch in 2029 from SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland. The spacecraft will approach two defunct UK-registered satellites, capture them using robotic technology and guide them towards Earth's atmosphere, where they are expected to burn up.