Driftspace
A startup called Cosmoserve Space opened India's first private space debris remo
A startup called Cosmoserve Space opened India's first private space debris removal facility on 5 November in Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Named Base 1, the site includes a laboratory for orbital rendezvous and capture simulation, a space robotics workshop, a mission simulation centre, and a clean room. The company says it uses a soft robotic gripper system capable of securing irregular or tumbling pieces of debris, a technology the firm tested during a demonstration mission earlier in 2026. The opening aligns with India's official Swachh Space goal, articulated by the government, of achieving debris-free space operations by 2030. Cosmoserve plans a full-scale capture demonstration mission in 2027 and aims to begin commercial operations by mid-2028. Industry analysts describe satellite servicing and debris removal as one of the fastest-growing emerging sectors in space commerce. With the number of objects in orbit expanding rapidly, who do you think should bear the primary responsibility for cleaning up space?