Spacecraft could be fuelled by space junk collected in orbit

The Daily Telegraph (paywall) reports UK tech startup Magdrive is developing a groundbreaking propulsion system which turns aluminium or copper into hot, dense plasma using stored power generated by solar powers, which is then ejected to create thrust.

With an estimated 10,000 tonnes of debris floating in space, the company believes that the innovation could help clean up Earth’s congested orbit, as well as creating a cutting-edge engine which could allow satellites and other spacecraft to last up to three times as long as they currently do.