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An international team of scientists is developing satellites that use a gecko-inspired grip to capture and remove dangerous space junk from Earth’s orbit. The project, called gEICko, began this year with support from the European Union and brings together experts from Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
The effort is led by researchers at Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg in Germany, under Professor Mohamed Khalil Ben-Larbi, alongside partners such as the Technical University of Berlin. Their inspiration comes from geckos, which can walk on walls by using tiny molecular forces known as van der Waals forces.
Since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, more than 22,000 satellites have been sent into orbit. Many no longer work and now float as debris. The European Space Agency (ESA) tracks about 42,000 objects, with estimates suggesting there are more than 54,000 pieces larger than 10 centimeters.
These include dead satellites, rocket parts, and fragments from collisions or explosions. With around 12,300 active satellites in use, the rest pose real threats to missions. Even the International Space Station (ISS) has had to dodge debris multiple times.
The problem is getting worse as companies like SpaceX add thousands of satellites to orbit. Even if launches stopped today, chain reactions of collisions known as Kessler syndrome could create more junk. In 2024 alone, satellite breakups added at least 3,000 new tracked objects. On average, more than three pieces of debris fall back into Earth’s atmosphere every day, but new fragments appear faster than old ones burn up.
Past attempts to clean space, including nets, harpoons, and robotic arms, have struggled to latch onto spinning or unstable debris. The gEICko team hopes their nature-inspired method will succeed where others failed. Their satellites will use silicone pads with microscopic structures that mimic gecko feet. These pads can stick to smooth surfaces, such as solar panels, without glue.
The Würzburg group is also developing precise navigation systems that allow the satellites to approach targets at the right speed and angle. “We need precision to avoid making more debris,” Ben-Larbi explained. If direct docking is not possible, the system could deploy a tether coated with the sticky material, whipping out to grab debris like a gecko’s tongue.
Once a piece of junk is captured, the cleaning satellite can guide it to safely burn up in Earth’s atmosphere or move it into a “graveyard orbit.” The technology is designed for multiple captures and can even draw power from the solar panels of old satellites to extend missions.
The EU has granted about 4 million euros to the project through its Horizon program, with Würzburg University receiving nearly 700,000 euros. The Technical University of Berlin is coordinating the effort, and other partners include the University of Padua, the University of Lisbon, the Fraunhofer Institute, and DHV Technology. The goal is to produce a working prototype within three years, with full deployment expected in about a decade.
The design favors small, low-cost satellites that are cheaper to build and launch. It also builds on earlier experiments, such as NASA’s 2017 gecko gripper tests, while focusing on Europe’s space goals.
New rules now require satellites to de-orbit within 25 years of their mission, or just five years under ESA’s 2023 update. Still, millions of older fragments remain in orbit. ESA’s Zero Debris initiative, supported by 19 countries, calls for near-total cleanup by 2030.
If successful, the gEICko technology could also help extend the life of working satellites or recycle old ones. For now, it offers a hopeful path to dealing with one of the biggest challenges in keeping space safe for future exploration.
Source: Cleaning up space with gecko technology
