Revolutionizing Space Junk Monitoring with Orbiting Debris Trackers
Belgian company Arcsec has developed a new device that can detect smaller pieces of space debris, as small as 1 inch, which are currently invisible to existing space junk monitoring systems. These innovative space debris trackers utilize star trackers, optical sensors used by satellites to maintain their orientation in space. By characterizing the paths of debris fragments, these trackers will greatly enhance our understanding of the amount and location of space junk in Earth's orbit. Arcsec's sensors will be able to detect space junk as small as 1.2 inches and can be remotely added to existing star trackers already in orbit. The data from this orbiting debris-tracking network will be available as a paid service to providers of space situational awareness information.