Shield Space and ClearSpace have signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate autonomous satellite operations with in-orbit servicing capabilities, creating a sovereign space defense framework for the United Kingdom and its allies. The partnership, announced June 23, targets a growing need to protect critical satellite infrastructure from adversary monitoring, disruption, and potential disablement.
Combining Autonomy with Proximity Operations
Shield Space, a British startup founded in 2025, develops software that allows satellites to operate autonomously even when ground communications are severed. ClearSpace, headquartered in Luxembourg with operations across Switzerland, Germany, and the U.K., specializes in spacecraft for in-orbit inspection, life extension, and debris removal.
The companies are converging on autonomous proximity operations from different starting points. Graeme Ritchie, Shield Space’s cofounder and CEO, said ClearSpace has built world-class proximity operations for responsible space use, while Shield Space was founded to enable allied operators to maintain mission continuity in denied or degraded environments.
ClearSpace plans to test close-proximity operations next year in a mission involving two small spacecraft, in partnership with the European Space Agency. Shield Space separately announced a partnership with Bulgarian satellite maker EnduroSat to deploy a cubesat capable of maneuvering near other satellites for inspection, as part of plans for a mothership housing dozens of similar cubesats.
Building a Broader Industrial Alliance
The agreement establishes a framework for integrating complementary capabilities and provides a foundation for a larger industrial alliance focused on sovereign space defense. Ritchie said the companies are not waiting for a single anchor customer or funding event to move forward, and expects to release details about a “larger consortium” program in the coming months.
The partnership positions itself against a backdrop of escalating counterspace activity in Europe. In February, the Financial Times reported that European security officials believed two Russian space vehicles had intercepted communications from at least a dozen satellites. Last year, the head of UK Space Command told the BBC that Russian satellites had been flying close to British military satellites, which also faced weekly jamming attempts from ground-based systems.
What This Means for Satellite Operators
This collaboration signals a shift from reactive space security toward proactive, autonomous defense postures. By combining inspection, servicing, and autonomous operations under a sovereign framework, the U.K. and its allies are building the industrial architecture needed to counter orbital threats without relying on commercial off-the-shelf solutions. As adversarial close approaches and jamming become routine, the ability to maintain mission continuity in contested environments is no longer optional—it is the new baseline for assured access to space.
— Originally reported by SpaceNews. Adapted and republished with editorial context for SpaceSecurityNews.
