TAMPA, Fla. — New star-tracking sensors in the works would enable all manner of satellites to keep an eye out for hazardous orbital debris too small to detect from the ground.
Star trackers use the known position of stars to help keep satellites properly oriented and pointing in the right direction.
Belgian spacecraft component specialist Arsecc is working with Portuguese space traffic management venture NeuraSpace on a debris-spotting star tracker they expect to demo in space by 2025.
Adding data from Arsecc’s sensors to the pool of information NeuraSpace gathers from public sources and partnerships with ground telescope providers would enable the Portuguese venture to track much smaller orbital debris, according to NeuraSpace chief operating officer Chiara Manflett.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville, Florida-based Redwire has developed a star tracker it says can be used to detect debris, slated to be on orbit in the next three to six months after entering production this summer.
Other manufacturers are also looking into developing star trackers that satellite operators could use for debris detection alongside attitude and orbit control.
More tools for debris hunters
Denver-based, national security-focused satellite maker True Anomaly announced plans in August to use SpectraTRAC star trackers and cameras from Redwire, which would work in concert for spacecraft dedicated to chasing, and imaging, uncooperative objects up close.
Redwire senior vice president Don Wesson declined to disclose other customers for SpectraTRAC, but said the object detection feature enables space domain awareness applications including debris detection, rendezvous and proximity operations, and space situational awareness.
Customers can opt for the object detection feature at time of purchase or anytime in the future, he said, even during their mission and without being paired up with a Redwire camera.
While Arcsec CEO Tjorven Delabie said enabling…
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