NASA warning: Why space junk ‘waiting to collide’ with rocket threatens future missions

“The European Space Agency is diving into this problem headfirst, launching a new robot spacecraft in 2024, called e.deorbit.”

The ESA aren’t the only ones planning to clean up space, though.

Mr Sykes continued: “The ESA’s craft will have a robotic arm or maybe a net, and will catch one of their eight-tonne derelict satellites.

“From there, it can slow, redirect and burn it up.

“They’re not the only ones thinking a net shape might be the way to go, a new space junk cleaner-upper called Brane Craft takes this way further, it’s basically just a membrane of solar panels and plastic, with tiny rockets on it, like Aladdin’s carpet.

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