Removing at least half of space debris, consisting of large metal objects, could be a cost-effective activity if, first, it becomes raw material, along with other extraterrestrial resources such as regolith, for the production of heat shields which is aimed to return the upper stages of medium and heavy rockets and, secondly, as a working medium for low-thrust electric rocket engines of interorbital tugs. Heat shields from external resources provide a means of increasing the payload of reusable launch vehicles.
