The growing case of space junk orbiting around the Earth proves why cleanup is important. A chunk of a default payload adapter that launched in 2013 was the subject of a clean-up mission to rid it from orbit, but it was ironically hit with another space junk that caused it to split into smaller pieces.
A startup geared toward clearing up space junk now has a chance to test its technology after securing a ride to orbit aboard an Arianespace Vega-C rocket.