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Star Trackers

All articles tagged with #star trackers

space-technology2 years ago•5 min saved

Enhanced Star Trackers Revolutionize Satellite Debris Monitoring

Belgian spacecraft component specialist Arcsec and Portuguese space traffic management venture NeuraSpace are collaborating on the development of star-tracking sensors that would enable satellites to detect hazardous orbital debris that is too small to be detected from the ground. The upgraded star trackers would provide data to NeuraSpace, allowing them to track smaller orbital debris. Redwire has also developed a star tracker with debris detection capabilities, set to be launched in the next three to six months. Other manufacturers are exploring the development of star trackers for debris detection. The addition of debris-monitoring capabilities to star trackers would enhance space safety and improve orbit calculations.

via SpaceNews|

#orbital-debris #satellite-technology #space-safety

technology2 years ago•1 min saved

Testing Satellite Navigation Systems with an 'Artificial Star' (Photo)

The European Space Agency's European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) uses an artificial star in their testing facility to simulate the color and brightness of a given star. Star trackers, which are commonly used by satellites and spacecraft to determine their position, rely on capturing the sky with a camera and referencing it against a catalogue of known stars. The star simulators, like the one at ESTEC, are crucial for testing these star trackers before they are launched into space.

via Space.com|

#artificial-star #european-space-agency #satellite-navigation-systems

technology2 years ago•4 min saved

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.

via Space.com|

#arcsec #space-debris #space-junk-monitoring