PRELUDE
| Mission type | Technology demonstration |
|---|---|
| Operator | European Space Agency |
| Website | clearspace |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | 2× 16U CubeSat |
| Manufacturer | ClearSpace SA |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2027 (planned) |
PRELUDE is a future space mission for technology demonstration of operations needed for on-orbit satellite servicing and active space debris removal. The mission, consisting of two identical 16U CubeSat-type small satellites flying in formation, is being developed by Switzerland-based company ClearSpace for the European Space Agency (ESA) and its Space Safety Programme (S2P). The two satellites will be launched together and, once in space, they will perform a series of complex manoeuvres representing both cooperative and uncooperative proximity operations. PRELUDE's launch is expected in 2027.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
See also
References
- ^ Sampson, Ben (2026-01-13). "ESA and ClearSpace Prelude mission to test close-up orbital maneuvers". Aerospace Testing International. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ^ ClearSpace (2026-01-22). "ESA and ClearSpace Start PRELUDE". aerospace-and-defence. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ^ Enthusiast, Space (2026-01-21). "ClearSpace and ESA Will Launch PRELUDE Mission to Test In-Orbit Services". Orbital Today. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ^ "ESA and ClearSpace announce PRELUDE mission to test debris-removal techniques".
- ^ Bauldry, Jess (2026-01-13). "This Space Robotics Firm Plans To Clean Up Space". Silicon Luxembourg. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ^ "Prelude: making responsible space operational". en.paperjam.lu. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ^ "ESA and ClearSpace initiate PRELUDE - ADS Advance". www.adsadvance.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ^ Faleti, Joshua (2026-01-14). "ClearSpace and ESA Announce 'PRELUDE' In-Orbit Servicing (IOS) Core Technology Demonstration Mission". SpaceWatch.GLOBAL. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ^ "Prelude mission starts for ClearSpace, ESA| Electronics Weekly". Retrieved 2026-04-19.