Indeed I couldn't concur more, lead by example and in doing so we can actually commercialise the technology to clear orbits of other companies that wish to either remove their dead equipment or provide space for new companies that need that orbit.

I would love to be apart of such a comity, brainstorming, researching technologies or assisting in programming or electronics where possible.

Before we can even start looking at the technical challenges of cleaning up space debris, we will have to attend to the legal ones. Currently there exists no Law of Salvage in space. Without this we run the risk being accused of theft; espionage and, in extreme cases, an Act of War for gaining unauthorized access to State property.

Next question we would have to ask ourselves, once we have a viable way of accessing the space debris: What do we do with it?

Do we (1) De-orbit and burn it up? or (2) Recycle the materials for space construction?

Good point on point of law on salvage, we really need to get some sort of consensus on that. We call it space junk, it is the most expensive junk ever created.  It is also mass we don't have to lift into orbit. I'm for recycling every last gram of it  possible. We may also provide a viable service repairing and servicing some of that junk. AndreFourle is correct in that we have to get some sort of treaty in place before we start dithering about with some one else's junk.

Оne interesting option - disposal of debris, especially small ones, the most dangerous, as a component of the working medium to kinetic rocket engine by Podvysotsky&Panov in deriving the cargo beyond low earth orbit, first and foremost, to the moon.

Read more kinetic workflow engine described here: http://lnfm1.sai.msu.ru/SETI/koi/articles/86.pdf (sorry, only in Russian). A bit like the old American project "Medusa", only the explosion in the focus of the reflector is not nuclear, but kinetic, due to the collision of the fragments of the working medium on a collision trajectories with a relative velocity of up to tens of km/s.

In the classic version by Podvysotsky&Panov managed "probes" face fired towards the targets. We can also use collisions of space debris, especially formed a ring in the plane of the orbit with small inclination, with targets generated by the dispenser from liquid plastic, polymerizing in the open space. Reflectors, dispensers and tanks for liquid polymer can be a model for all the "debris-fuel" spacecrafts.

This variant may solved two problems of Asgardia: active space exploration, and mitigate threats to spacecraft, including manned, from space debris.

I propose to consider the question.

See also https://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=38184&cpage=1#comment-164278.

This is EU analog of Russian "Mayak".

In  this geometry of InflateSail it is possible to test the reflector of  kinetic engine - at least disposable, for single-pulse orbital transfer  maneuver.

This technology would be the embryo  of   far  more advance technology  needed when humanities roaming around the astroid belt.

Good idea my friend. I support you

Devil's advocate. You know about all the technological and current efforts because others in governmental agencies and industries around the world are looking to capitalize on these projects. There is money and expertise out there and Asgardia does not necessarily have that. Space debris is a real problem, but just because we are the space nation does not mean that we need to invest in cleaning it up. Rather we should invest selectively.

Consider: We have a budget of A+B+C+D. We Have to earmark A+B+C for infrastructure, governance, the bank, scholarships, etc. Do we spend D cleaning up the garbage of other nations who are also trying to pick up that same garbage, all the while netting nothing of financial, technological, or societal value unique to Asgardia, or do we invest it into something else that adds more capital to the value of the nation.

I support this petition for the following reasons;

1) There are already many efforts to study tackling this problem but still not enough.

2) This could start by being an effort by Asgardian members, to show support for existing efforts, particularly the open-source ones which anyone with a PC and/or a reasonable web-cam can already join. (BOINC, and such clients help global efforts by allowing your machine to help these projects process data).

3) After we have a community of interested members, we could jointly do our bit as Asgardians to add to the global pool of knowledge and ideas, thus also raising our profile in the World (which in turn may help to legitimize nationhood with the United Nations, and other entities).

4) When our Space Ministry is ready (and more relevant), this could then form the needed department, as you would then effectively have experienced researchers in the form of the existing interest group, negating the need to create this entity immediateley (and potentially keeping costs down until we can form an effective working group).

Just another point in relation to AndreFourie 's point regarding whether we de-orbit or re-cycle.

I think that if we start as we mean to go on, then Recycling should be the preferred method (along with the technologies that would require). However the cost of getting into space, and the fuel, plus bits that might fall-off during the whole effort, make for a difficult choice.

De-orbiting would likely be cheaper, but how much damage does that do to Earth's environment, particularly considering how much junk is up there already? Sadly, it is likely that recycling would be very expensive (and maybe even not viable due to radiation and contaminants (even within the Van-Allen Belt)).

I'm sure there are many more points that could be raised, and indeed I think they should be, isn't that what a Working Group does? :)

Cleanig the orbit for gainnig founds is a great idea  but need great capacitation for working . Im offer for first volunter!

I support this, but not to destroy space debris, it should be recycled, for now price to get material to space is big. I say we use it to build station or some parts or save it as material for 3D printers. Many say to shove it to earth, but thats not space like thinking - of reusing waste materials.