Space debris tracking site to be established by Lockheed Martin and Electro Optic Systems in Australia
NewsAugust 26, 2014
CANBERRA, Australia. Lockheed Martin and Electro Optic Systems Pty Ltd., are joining hands to develop a new space object tracking site in Western Australia to provide a more detailed picture of space debris for government and commercial customers.
The site will use a mix of lasers and sensitive optical systems such as those found in telescopes to detect, track, and characterize man-made debris objects. Electro-optical technologies that can zoom in on specific objects create a strong complement to radar-based systems like the U.S. Air Force’s Space Fence, which will sweep the sky and track about 200,000 objects.
The new site will use advanced sensors and software to focus on specific objects and determine how fast they are moving, what direction they are spinning, and what they are made of.
Electro Optic Systems designs and produces a variety of space-related technologies such as telescopes and beam directors. They currently operate the Space Research Centre, a satellite laser ranging and debris tracking facility located at Mt. Stromlo in the Australian Capital Territory.
