The UK Space Agency is asking people across the UK to name a spacecraft that will remove two dead satellites from orbit. The “Name the UK Active Debris Removal Mission” competition opened at 09:30 BST on 15 October 2026 and closes at 17:00 GMT on 10 December 2026. Only UK residents can enter, and the eventual winning suggestion is not guaranteed to become the spacecraft’s final approved name.
How to enter the UK debris-removal naming competition
The competition is open to UK residents, with one entry permitted per person. Schools and classes can submit a joint suggestion through a parent or teacher, giving pupils a way to enter collectively rather than as separate individual entries.
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Each proposed name must meet strict format and content rules:
- No more than two words, or an acronym.
- An explanation of no more than 150 words must accompany the suggestion.
- The name must not duplicate a past, current or proposed space mission or mission component.
- It must not infringe intellectual-property rights.
- Military themes, commercial brands, existing spacecraft names and potentially offensive or controversial wording are prohibited.
Those restrictions mean a strong entry needs to be short, distinctive and clearly connected to safely clearing orbital debris. Before submitting, entrants should check spelling, search for obvious conflicts with existing space programmes and keep the explanation within the 150-word limit.
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What the spacecraft will actually do
This is not a household-style cleanup operation and it will not collect rubbish in a cargo bay. The planned spacecraft will rendezvous with two defunct satellites, capture or otherwise secure them, and alter their orbits.
Lowering satellites for controlled disposal
After reaching the dead satellites, the vehicle is intended to release them into lower orbits. At those lower altitudes, atmospheric drag will bring the satellites back into the atmosphere, where they are expected to burn up naturally during re-entry. The UK Government describes the project as a world first because the mission is intended to dispose of more than one satellite in this way.
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Why removing two objects matters
Orbital debris is a direct infrastructure risk, not just a concern for science-fiction scenarios. The UK Government says hundreds of thousands of tracked debris objects travel at speeds exceeding 17,000 miles per hour. At those velocities, even relatively small pieces can damage or destroy satellites that support communications, navigation, weather monitoring, national security and everyday services.
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Mission plan: launch, targets and future use
| Mission detail | Current plan |
|---|---|
| Planned launch | 2029 |
| Launch site | SaxaVord Spaceport, Scotland |
| Initial objective | Remove two defunct satellites from orbit |
| Disposal method | Lower the satellites into atmospheric re-entry paths so they burn up naturally |
| Spacecraft design | Intended to be refuellable and usable for future debris-removal operations |
The refuelling concept is important because the vehicle is being designed as more than a single-use demonstration. If it can be refuelled and prepared for later operations, the same spacecraft design could support additional debris-clearance work after its initial two-satellite mission. The 2029 launch date is a government plan, so schedules can change as development, testing and launch preparations progress.
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Why active debris removal is different from tracking
Space agencies already monitor large amounts of debris and use tracking data to help operational satellites avoid collisions. Active debris removal addresses a different problem: a spacecraft deliberately travels to an object that no longer functions, interacts with it and changes its trajectory.
That makes the mission technically demanding. A dead satellite cannot steer itself or cooperate with the visiting vehicle. The removal spacecraft must approach safely, match the target’s motion, attach or control it, and then place it on a trajectory that produces atmospheric re-entry. Each step has to be planned around the target’s orbit, shape, rotation and structural condition.
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Will the public’s winning name definitely be used?
No. The competition terms state that the final mission name remains subject to approval by the UK Space Agency and its partner supplier. The selected public entry may be changed or rejected if legal, trademark, programme-risk or other approval concerns arise.
Winning the public competition therefore means that a suggestion has been selected as the preferred public entry, not that the spacecraft will necessarily carry that exact wording at launch. The organiser can choose a different final name when the programme completes its formal checks.
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What makes a sensible entry?
A concise name should be easy to say, easy to remember and suitable for an official space programme. An explanation can show how the name reflects safe disposal, orbital stewardship, reuse of the spacecraft or the UK’s role in the mission. Entrants should avoid jokes that could become ambiguous in another context, references to companies or products, and names that resemble existing spacecraft or missions.
The practical checklist is straightforward:
- Confirm that you are a UK resident, or submit through a parent or teacher if entering as a school or class.
- Create one name of up to two words or an acronym.
- Write an explanation of no more than 150 words.
- Check the proposal against the duplicate-name, intellectual-property, military-theme, commercial-brand and offensive-language restrictions.
- Submit it before 17:00 GMT on 10 December 2026.
The mission’s public-facing name will ultimately support a real spacecraft programme aimed at reducing hazards in orbit. That combination of a tightly limited naming format and a practical environmental purpose is the central challenge for entrants: find a short name that communicates cleanup without creating legal or operational problems.
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